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UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
AT  AMHERST 


UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

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PRESIDE 


LEGENDS 


INCIDENTS,     ANECDOTES,     REMINISCENCES,    ETC., 

CONNECTED     WITH    THE    EARLY  HISTORY  OF 

FITCHBURG,  MASS.,  AND  VICINITY. 


Copyright,  1890. 


ftSTABU§H(D-\86°-' 


Bm  GOODS 


VVRPETSi^ 


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m^it' 


PUBLISHER'S   NOTICE. 


(T)Y  way  of  explanation  the  publisher  desires  to  say  that  the  price  of  Fireside 
^.SJ  Legends  was  placed  at  75  cents  per  copy,  that  a  good  list  of  subscribers  had 
been  obtained,  and  that  the  sale  of  all  the  books  at  that  price  was  assured,  when  a 
proposition  was  received  from  Nichols  &  Frost  to  purchase  the  entire  edition  and 
sell  them  at  25  cents  per  copy,  furnishing  them  to  subscribers  at  the  same  price.  The 
proposition  was  promptly  accepted  and  the  public  by  reason  of  this  stroke  of  generous 
business  advertising  will  receive  a  volume,  the  actual  cost  of  which  is  more  than  double 
the  price  paid. 

This  unexpected  compliment  to  the  book  and  exhibition  of  confidence  in  its 
publisher  is  appreciated,  and  no  pains  have  been  spared  to  make  a  lively  and  attrac- 
tive book  which  shall  be  worthy  of  a  place  in  every  Fitchburg  household. 

WM.  A.  EMERSON,  Publisher. 


ESTABLISHED  IN  1873 


M  Terms.  ^1.50  Pet  Annum  in  Advance. 
TemS,^  5.  Pet  Annum  in  Advdnce. 


Booi(, PoSTEI^  (ARD  apS  JOBpRlNTINp 

PROMPTLY 

I  offiee  t  ^j 


PROMPTLY    ANO      NICELY     EXECUTED. 

I  offiee  t 


Printers  of  this  booli. 


1869  =  i8go 


OFFICE    AT    RESIDENCE, 

35  CHARLES  ST. 


UnwC 


Apph 


FITCHB IRG,  MA SS. 


Designs  and  Estimates  furnished  for  Fine  Engraved   Headings 
arranged  far  Cards,  Letter  and   Bill  Heads, 


The  Plates  for  this  Book  meve  made  by 


INDIAN  REMINISCENCES. 


fUST  before  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims,  a  pestilence 
had  swept  away  the  greater  part  of  the  native 
population  of  New  England,  so  that  many  portions 
of  the  interior  were  practically  uninhabited,  and 
were  visited  only  by  roving  bands  of  Indians,  bent 
on  war,  or  engaged  in  hunting  and  fishing. 

There  are  no  indications  that  the  territory  with- 
in the  limits  of  Fitchburg  was  ever  permanently 
settled  by  the  Indians,  as  arrow  heads  and  other 
implements  of  Indian  manufacture  have  seldom 
been  found,  and  never  in  large  quantities,  but  we  have  reason  to  suppose 
from  the  few  relics  left  behind,  that  they  were  not  unmindful   of  the  excel- 

7 


^fe^l^ 


^. 


-^cf  (2/y^^cAi  ^Uee^. 


lent  salmon  trout  which  sported  in  the  waters  of 
the  Nashaway,  or  the  wild  game  so  abundant  in 
the  forest  wilds. 

What  Indian  name  was  given  to  Fitchburg 
is  not  known,  but  Turke^y  Hills  was  the  tirst 
name  applied  to  it  by  white  men  ;  and  it  was  so 
called  in  the  grant  of  the  General  Court  in 
1 7 19,  probably  from  the  fact  that  at  that  time   it 


1/2-^1/2^/. 


was  the  favorite 
esort    of   im- 


mense numbers  of  wild  turkeys  which  here 
found  shelter,  and  an  abundance  of  their 
favorite  food,  chestnuts  and  acorns. 

The     first   settler    within    the    limits   of 
Fitchburg  was  David  Page,  who  lived  near 


Fitchburg  Mutual' 


Fire  Insurance  Company, 


E.   P.  DoWNE,   Secy.  H.  G.    Morse,    Vice-Prest.  and  Treas.  A.masa   Norcko.ss,   Prest. 

KlTCHBURQ,    MLASS. 

THIS  Company  was  incorporated  in  1847  ^"'^  '^'i^  been  in  active  business  more  than  forty-two 
years.  During  this  period  it  has  been  fortunate  in  securing  at  all  times  an  honest,  intelligent 
and  capable  administration.  No  company  more  fully  enjoys  the  confidence  of  its  patrons,  and  it  now 
occupies  a  position  among  the  leading  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Companies  of  New  England.  Within 
a  few  years  past  it  has  largely  extended  its  business,  while  limiting  the  same  to  the  safer  class  of 
risks,  thereby  increasing  its  financial  strength  and  the  absolute  security  of  all  its  members.  The  num- 
ber of  policies  now  outstanding  is  a  trifle  less  than  fifteen  thousand,  and  the  number  of  members  or 
policy  holders  is  in  excess  of  twelve  thousand.  As  a  result  of  a  careful  and  conservative  management 
and  an  honest  direction  of  its  afifairs,  the  demand  made  upon  it  for  insurance  has  largely  increased, 
and  the  amount  of  business  it  is  now  able  to  accomplish  is  much  greater  than  that  of  former  years, 
being  limited  only  by  its  policy,  which  excludes  those  hazardous  risks  which  experience  has  shown 
are  not  desirable  in  a  purely  mutual  company. 


Amasa  Norcross, 
William  Baker, 
Rodney  Wallace, 
Henry  G.  Morse, 
George  H.  Spencer, 


DIRECTORS : 
Fitchburg.  George  Jewett,  Fitchburg. 

Lyman  C.  Albee,  " 

E.  P.  Downe,  " 

W.  A.  Macurda,  " 

B.  F.  Wallis, 


S.  R.  Merrick,  Lancaster. 

S.  W.  A.  Stevens,  Gardner. 

Orlando  Mason,  Winchendon. 
John  M.  Lockey,  Leominster. 
Charles  E.  Grant.        Worcester. 


siege 

niade  a  covered  channel  by  which  a  small 
brook  was  conducted  for  quite  a  distance 
underground  and  through  the  garrison, 
supplying  it  with  pure  water. 

Torrey's  History  refers  to  David  Page 


what  is  now  Pearl  Street,  between  the  present 
residence  of  S.  S.  Holton  and  Blossom  Street. 
His  dw^elling  was  built  of  logs  and  surrounded 
by  a  stockade  of  sticks  of  timber  driven 
closely  together  as  a  protection  against  the 
incursion  of  savages  and  to  add  to  its  conven- 
ience and 
safety,  in 
case  oi 
he 


Established  iSji. 


.o^^^^sm 


m.^^-^- 


HERBERT  N.  RUGQ 

We   carry    ]\)e   lanaest   and   finest   stocl^   to    be   found     outside    tbe 


large  ciTies. 


FRal?ina     tbe    Sonfectionery     trade    ouc    wbole    business,    we    are 
bettec  able   to   cater    to  tbe  wants   of    all     tban    tbose  wbo  carry    otben 


lines   of  cjoods. 

Please  aive  us  a  call. 


181  Main  St.,  Fitchburg. 


as  one  of  a  large  family  of  children  of  Gov- 
ernor Page,  and  states  that  he  afterwards  re- 
moved to  the  northerly  part  of  Vermont. 

An  elderly  gentleman  of  Lunenburg  from 
whom  the  facts  were  obtained,  in  1835,  ^'^~ 
lates  the  following  :  "This  Page,  having  a 
roving  disposition  and  a  speculative  cast  of 
mind,  took  it  into  his  head,  when  young,  that 
he  could  ^ 
make  more 
money    by 


trading  with  the  Indians,  than  by  cutting 
down  forest  trees  and  cultivating  the  soil     ^^M 
Accordingly,      he    directed    his     course 
towards    Canada,    and  commenced   pur- 


13 


IIFE  AND  FIRE  Q    H    PUU   HO     REAL  ESTATE 

INSURANCE.    0.  H.  UniLUO.      AGENT  i  BROKER. 


I  can  place  your  Fire  Insurance  at  as  low  rates  as  any  one. 

I  am  General  Agent  for  the  National  Life  Insurance  Company  of 
Montpelier,  Vt.,  and  can  give  you  a  life  policy  as  good  as  any 
in  the  United  States. 

I  have  Real  Estate  for  sale  or  exchange — Houses,  House  Lots, 
Stores,   Hotels,  Farms,  Wood  Lots,  Mill   Property,  etc. 

If  you  wish  Insurance,  or  to  buy,  sell  or  exchange  any  property, 
please  call  and  consult 

S.  A.  CHILDS, 

176   rvlaio  Street,         =         -         Kitcl:ibt_irg. 


chasing  beaver  and  otter  skins  of  the  ig- 
norant natives  upon  this  principle, — that 
his  foot  weighed  just  fotir  pounds  and  his 
hand  one  pound.  This  they  seemed  to 
doubt,  but  were  soon  satisfied  by  his  making 
the  declaration  that  it  was  as  fair  for  one 
party  as  the  other,  since  he  weighed  off  to 
them,  by  the  same  weights,  his  powder, 
tobacco,  shot,  etc.  This  grand  field  for 
making  an  honest  living  was,  however, 
soon  closed  ;  for  some  other  traders  coming 
that  way,  explained  the  trick  to  the  Indians, 
and  the  old  Governor's  speculating  son  had 
to  decamp  very  suddenly — weights  and  all 
to  save  his  life." 


15 


K.  O.  lATIIvLi^R-E), 


ialty;    a  supply  always  on  hand 
Artistic  Floral  Work  at  Short  Notice. 
Greenhouses  Grove  St.   near  Post  Office.  Telephone  13-3. 


Soon  after  Page  located  other  settlers  began  to  come  in,  until  in 
1748,  there  were  at  least  five  other  garrisons  within  the  present  boundaries 
of  Fitchburg.  The  owners  were  Samuel  Poole,  Samuel  Hunt,  Isaac 
Gibson,  Joseph  Spoftbrd,  and  John  Fitch.  The  latter  lived  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  town,  since  set  off  to  form  a  part  of  the  town  of  Ashby,  and 

it  seems  certain  the  town  of 


Fitchburg  was  named  for 
him,  as  he  was  prominent  in 
securing  its  incorporation. 

In  1748  Fitchburg  re- 
ceived a  visit  from  the  In- 
dians, the  occasion  of  which 
was  as  follows  :  One  day 
while  at  work  in  the  woods 
Mr.   Fitch  cut  down  a   tree 


n 


STATIONERY 
I  FANCr  GOODS. 


'C^fic    o\\S.\\    fine    o\    ^apaiic:>c    ^oo^>    in    tfic    cit'ij. 


which  in  falling  unfortunately  de- 
molished a  wigwam  belonging  to 
Surdody,  a  "half  tamed"  Indian, 
while  its  owner  was  absent  on 
some  hunting  expedition.  Fitch 
did  not  consider  it  necessary  to 
repair  the  damage  done,  or  to  of- 
fer any  remuneration  or  apology 
to  the  owner  upon  his  return. 
The  wrath  of  the  latter  was  kin- 
dled not  a  little  and  he  sought  a 
recompense  congenial  to  his  sav- 
age nature.  Bent  on  revenge  he 
quietly  proceeded  to  Canada  and, 
by   representing    the    defenceless 


19 


"|"'F.FOSD1CK,Pre5T. 

C.  FOSDICK,  SUPT. 
W.  E.SHELDON, TRELAS. 
VA/.  J.  CLIFFORD,  Sec 


'1, 


K^J^j^ilcA^c^^^floAd/ 


condition  of  the  whites,  induced  a  party  to 
accompany  him  on  an  expedition  of  ven- 
geance and  plunder.  Upon  the  arrival  ot 
the  Indians, — about  eighty  in  number, — on 
Saturday,  July  2d,  1748,  they  divided  into 
small  parties,  and  from  the  thickly  wooded 
heights  looked  down  on  the  settlement  be- 
low. The  view  of  the  garrison  houses, 
including  Fort  Gibson  with  its  hardy  de- 
fenders, led  them  to  hesitate  about  attacking 
the  main  settlement  and  they  began  to  skir- 
mish around.  One  party  proceeded  to  the 
farmhouse  of  David  Goodridfje  in  South 
Fitchburg  and  one  of  them,  as  he  after- 
wards informed  Mr.  Fitch  when  in  captivity. 


pJrJpiJr=JrJnJf=JpiiriJf^rJrdrJrJr=JrJnJnJfrJpJrJrJnJrtJa 


El*  m. 


^Tr.,¥r. 


MAMFAtTUKEH  ol 


RE   FRAMES 


PLlrdpiJr=Jf=Jp^nlnJr^f=Jf=Jc=Jr=if=ir=Jf=ir=Jf=Jr=iFUrJpJpjpiJp:Jf:u7=Jf 


)EALER  IN 


FITCHBURG,  MASS. 


Kine    Etchings, 

Pictures   of   All   Kinds^ 

ARTISTS'  MATERIALS,  ETC. 
Constantly  Receiving  New  Designs  in  Mouldings. 


climbed  into  a  tree  for  the  purpose  of  viewing 
the  premises  through  the  window.  He  saw 
only  a  white  squaw  feeding  her  papoose 
with  milk.  They  also  retired  from  this 
house  wihout  any  warlike  demonstrations. 

The  following  day  being  the  Sabbath 
they  were  surprised  and  disappointed  at 
seeing  the  concourse  of  able-bodied,  church- 
going  pale-faces,  armed,  as  was  their  cus- 
tom, and  well  prepared  for  bears  or  Indians. 
Finding  little  promise  of  scalps  in  this 
direction  they  skulked  away,  saying  it  was  i 
"useless  to  attack  them  there  for  they  were  A\^Sf^^ 
as  thick  as  the  leaves  in  the  forest." 

The    next    day    was    spent    in    lurking 


23 


J^owe  Bros.  &  Co,, 

COMMISSION  MERCHANTS. 


Provisions,  Fruit  and  Produce. 

RECEIVERS  OF    SWIFTS  .  CHICAGO  .  DRESSED  .  BEEF. 

pure  leaf  lard,  kettle  rendered.    full  llne 
of  pork  products. 

5  South  St.,  Fitchburg,  IVTass. 

ChestriU-t  St.,  Gardner,   Nlass. 

Near  Depot,  Greenfield,   IVlass. 


about  the  neighborhood,  intent  on  mischief  ot  one  sort  or  another.  They 
killed  an  ox  which  was  quietly  browsing  in  the  woods,  made  an  encamp- 
ment, roasted  the  beef,  and  had  a  regular  Fourth  of  July  barbecue.  The 
ox  or  steer  was  the  property  of  a  Mr.  Taylor,  who  then  lived  in  the  north 
part  of  Lunenburg.   Joshua  Pierce,  the  grandfather  of  Mr.  Alonzo  Goodrich, 

lived  with  Mr.  Taylor,  and 
through  him  it  is  learned 
that  the  camp  was  afterwards 
discovered  in  a  field,  then 
belonging  to  John  Scott,  on 
Scott  road  and  was  called 
"Camp  Pasture"  from  this 
circumstance.  The  Indians 
had  all  this  time  kept  a  close 
watch  on  the  object  of  their 


25 


JEWELRY. 

SILVERWARE. 


emmmww.^ 


DIAMONDS,  FINE  WATCHES, 

CI_OCKS, 
optical  goods,  etc. 

*366    Main    St., 
fitchburg. 

Repairing    Watches.  ClocliS  and  Jewelry. 


expedition,  Fitch's  garrison,  which  was  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town — 
now  Ashby — and  several  miles  from  neighbors.  Mr.  Fitch  after  the 
disappearance  of  Surdody  felt  extremely  uneasy  and  insecure,  and  peti- 
tioned the  government  for  assistance.  Three  soldiers,  named  Jennings, 
Blodgett,  and  Perkins,  were  accordingly  stationed   at  his  house.       During 

the  following  day,  July  5th,  the  soldier 
Perkins  having  left  on  a  furlough,  and 
no  alarm  having  been  excited  at  the 
garrison,  the  soldier  Blodgett  started 
out  in  quest  of  game.  He  had  pro- 
ceeded but  a  short  distance  when  he 
discovered  Indians  in  ambush.  He 
attempted  to  return  but  was  immedi- 
ately shot  down.  This  was  a  signal 
tor  a  general  attack  on  the  garrison. 


27 


J.  K.  CliAFiriK, 


'11 


-DEALKK    IN- 


1  ^ND  QRGi^Mi, 


STOOLS, 
COVERS, 

SHEET  MUSIC, 
STUDIES, 
MUSICAL  GOODS 

OF  ALL  KINDS, 
BRASS  BAND 

INSTRUMENTS. 


PIANOS  AND  ORGANS 

TO  RENT. 
TUNED  AND  REPAIRED. 

A  Grsat  Variety  of 

SECOND-HAND 
INSTRUMENTS 
ALWAYS  ON  HAND 

At  Loxest  Possible  Prices. 


SEWING    IVIACHINES 

From  first-class  makers.     Needles,  Oil  and  Supplies  of  all  kinds. 


157  MLaim  St., 


P^ITCHBURO. 


The  remaining  soldier  fought  gallantly,  but  soon  fell  under  the  shower  of 
bullets  poured  in  upon  them.  Mr.  Fitch  kept  up  the  fight  for  some  time,  his 
wife  loading  the  guns  and  he  firing  them.  At  last  the  Indians  told  them 
that  if  they  would  surrender  they  would  not  burn  the  garrison  and  their 
lives  would  be  spared,  otherwise   they  would  be  burned  with  the  building. 

They    finally    accepted    the 

terms,  and  the  Indians  kept 

their  word  so  far  as  to  save 

the  lives  of  the  captives,  in 

spite  of  Surdody's  endeavors 

to  have  Fitch  killed  on  the 

spot.       They    lost    no    time, 

however,     in    stripping     the 

bodies    of  the  dead  soldiers 

and  setting    fire  to  the  gar- 


29 


Most  Powerful  and  Easiest  Working 

FOUCE  AUD  SITCTIOIT  PUMP 

'or  Cisterns,  Kitchens  and  filling  Attic  Tanks.       With    Hose  used    for  cashing  Car- 
riage, Windows,  etc.     Hose  furnished  in  quantities  as  may  he  v\anted. 

.  F.  BURNAP,  Manufacturer, 

115  WATER  STREET,  FITCHBURG. 


Tlie  Fitiuri 
er  it. 


Made  by  CHAS.  A.  SAWYER, 

REAR  136  WATER  STREET. 


A  FIRST-CLASS  MOTOR  AT  A  LOW  PRICE. 

Just  the  thing  to  run  Sewing    Machines,  Ice  Cream   Freezers, 

Coffee  Mills,  Printing  Presses,  Scroll  Saws,  Grain  Elevators, 

or  any   Light  Machinery,  or  for  Blowing  Organs. 

Prices  $5.00  to  $100.00.  Circulars  Free. 


rison,  starting  with  their  prisoners  and 
marching  towards  Canada.  The  soldier 
Perkins,  returning  trom  his  furlough,  espied 
the  smoke  and  gave  the  alarm,  and  by  even- 
ing nearly  a  hundred  men,  from  Groton, 
Lancaster  and  even  Westford,  had  as- 
sembled, but  it  was  so  late  it  was  decided 
to  wait  until  morning,  and  before  daybreak, 
choosing  Major  Hartwell  as  commander, 
they  started  on  the  trail  of  the  Indians. 
They  gave  up  the  pursuit,  however,  upon 
finding  a  piece  of  birch  bark  attached  to  a 
tree  containing  a  request  signed  by  Fitch 
for  his  friends  not  to  pursue  him,  for  the 
Indians  had  given  him  to  understand  that 


191   Main  Street, 
fitchburg. 

German,  Norwich  and   I-izard 

CJVNARIES, 

Mocking  Birds,  Red  Birds,  Parrakeets,  African 
Finches  and  Fancy  Cage  Birds,' 

CAGES 

Double  Cage  Springs.  Hooks  and  Cage  Brackets,  Spring 

Perches,  Nesls,  Tubs,  etc. 


BIRD  MANNA. 

This  Cut  shows  both  sides. 


BIRD  SEED 

of  all  kinds  and  the  best  in  the  market. 
MocUing    Bird    and    Parrot    Kood. 

The  Celebrated 

BIRD  MANNA  and  BIRD  BITTERS. 


if  overtaken  the  whole  family  would    be    tomahawked 
and  scalped. 

The  band  of  captives,  consisting  of  the  father, 
mother  and  five  children,  the  youngest  a  babe  of  less 
than  five  months  old,  were  taken  to  Montreal,  where 
they  were  ransomed  the  following  fall,  the  ransom 
money  being  raised  by  subscription  among  the  people 
of  Bradford,  the  place  of  Fitch's  former  residence. 
They  all  lived  to  return  with  the  exception  of  Mrs. 
Fitch,  who  died  while  on  the  way  home,  at  Providence, 
R.  I.,  Dec.  26th,  1748.  The  dates  on  the  Fitch  monu- 
ment are  evidently  incorrect,  as  well  as  the  varying 
statements  of  Peter  Whitney  and  Rufus  C.  Torrey. 
The  researches  of  Mr.  Stephen  Shepley  fixes  beyond 
question    the    date    of  the    Indian    raid    as   July,  1748. 


gi 

^^ 

E»J,i.-i— .«:= 

^i@ 

Ki^3==- 

AfJIS 

r==5T¥^3.*i 

wrfg^3ffi=3S^S^W5 

J  it  NNIN  &5&  etf  0  G  £T  T 

'  WAS  eftHS^3Hgg5'47 
ScAFT^ft  His  glTyfiN 

IN€0SaQfiA1\ia^:  ifljF 


33 


HACK  AND    LIVERY   STABLK 


.^t'^ 


Hacks 

Furnished 

for 

Parties, 

Weddings, 


Funerals,       pliif 
etc. 


^3i^ 


ZJI    rUAolKbcl.     '  TelephoueOnler  at  Baker  &Cumniing8',35«  Main  St.  !     FITCHBURG. 


The  descendants  of  John  Fitch  settled  principally  in  Claremont,  N.  H. 
Charles  and  James  Fitch  of  Sterling  and  Mrs.  L.  M.  Wheeler  of  Fitchburg 

are  also  descend- 
ants. Cyrus  S. 
Tolman  of  Fitch- 
burg is  a  great- 
grandson  of John 
Fitch  ;  his  mother 

was  Susanna,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Paul,  son  of  John  Fitch.  From  his 
mother  while  living  Mr.  Tolman  learned  many  interesting  facts  of  family 
history.  At  the  time  of  the  capture  the  Indian  having  the  infant  of  the 
family  in  charge  applied  to  its  head  bear's  grease,  or  some  similar  substance, 
which  made  the  child  exceedingly  turbulent  and  hard  to  manage,  where- 
upon he  was  bound  securel}',  with  his  back  to  that  of  his  tormentor,  and  in 
that  way  made  the  journey  regardless  of  his  entreaties.     This  child,  Jacob 

35 


The  CITY   8TEAM   LAUNDRY,  229  Main  Street, 


I    M 


£ 


c 
c 


JQ 

» 


Is  tlie  Kest  Place  to  have  LACE  CURTAINS  Lauiulerecl. 


Fitch,  was  afterwards  for  some  years  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  Dr.  John 
Taylor  in  Lunenburg.  Though  in  other  respects  well  formed  his  lower  limbs 
were  of  dwarfish  size  in  consequence  of  the  rigor  with  which  he  was  bound. 
In  1 75 1  Mr.  Fitch  married  again,  his  second  wife  being  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Pearce  of  Lunenburg.       The  following    story   respecting  the  second  Mrs. 

Fitch,  related  by  Mr.  Torrey,  may  be  taken 
with  a  grain  of  allowance.  It  is  said  she 
undertook  one  day  to  make  some  candles,  and 
j accordingly  put  the  ingredients,  tallow  and 
vvicking,  together  in  a  kettle  over  the  fire 
and  commenced  stirring  them  together;  this 
she  continued  to  do  till  she  was  reduced  nearly 
to  the  state  of  the  liquid  over  which  she  was 
engaged.  One  of  the  neighbors  enquiring 
the    meaning    of  such   unusual  conduct,    she 


37 


DEALER  IS 


Fancy  Goods 

6I1OYES,  KO^IE^y,  EJFC. 

Kid  Gloveg  Cleansed  at  Short  Notice. 

STAMPING  AND  PINKING  A  SPECIALTY, 

AT    REASONABLE    PRICES. 

Agent  for  CONCORD  DYE  HOUSE. 

^B°fi.S°sr    FiTCHBURG. 


#     #    #    #     1^     # 


#     * 


*     # 


E.  E.  NUTTING, 

138  1-3  IQftll]  2T.  , 

Ice  Crcmn  for  Parties,  also  at  retail, 
delivered  to  any  part  of  the  city. 


CHOICE  ASSORTMENT  OF 

l-eSNFEeTIdNERY 


4 


replied  that  she  was  making  candles  and  wondered  very  much  "vvhy  the\ 
did  not  come." 

The  life  of  John  Fitch  illustrates  the  uncertainty  of  riches.  For  years 
he  was  prosperous  and  became  one  of  the  wealthiest  men 
of  Fitchburg,  and  afterwards  of  Ashby  when  his  neigh- 
borhood was  set  off  in  1767  to  form  a  part  of  that  town. 
Having  sold  land  and  loaned  money  he  was  obliged  to 
receive  his  pay  in  the  paper  currency  of  the  times,  which 
depreciated  so  rapidly  that  it  soon  became  worthless. 
He  died  April  8,  1795,  aged  87  years,  at  the  house  of  a 
relative  in  Ashby,  and  a  monument  commemorating  the 
principal  events  of  his  life  was  afterwards  erected  on  the 
church  common  in  Ashby  to  his  memory. 

On  the  day  after  the  capture  of  Fitch,  Deacon  David  ^^ 
Goodridge  was  tired  upon  by  a  party  of  Indians.      He  had  | 


39 


J.  C.  MOULTON, 


rssrSTEti-rr 


THE  BEST  STOCK  USED  AND  THE 
BEST  WORK  MADE. 


P  HQ  TeORAFHE R 


iiffiwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiffl 


LIFE  SIZE  CRAYONS  AND  PASTELLES 
A   SPECIALTY. 


j68  MAIN  ST.,  FITCHBURG. 


aSH^rHlH 


lost  his  cow  and  was  searching  for  her  on  horseback.  He  had  reached  the 
farm  of  Deacon  Amos  Kimball  (the  Hale  place)  and  was  talking  with  him 
as  he  was  hoeing  corn,  in  a  field  sur- 
rounded by  a  brush  fence  ;  while  thus 
occupied  his  dog  began  to  bark 
furiousl}^  and  looking  around  to  ascer- 
tain the  cause  he  discovered  two  In- 
dians lying  flat  en  the  ground  with 
their  guns  pointing  through  the  fence  , 
He  wheeled  his  horse  and  shouting  at  , 
the  same  time  to  Kimball,  "  Indians  ! 
Indians  I  "  started  down  the  hill,  the  Indians  firing  upon  him  as  he  went, 
but  owing  to  the  rapidity  of  his  motion  missed  fire,  and  plunging  down 
what  is  now  South  street,  across  the  river  by  Kimball's  (Gushing)  mill, 
and  up  Blossom  street  to  Page's  garrison  gave  the  alarm.       The  leaps  of 


41 


C.  H.  DOTEN,  1  224  and  226  Main  St. 


-THE- 


Largest  Millinery  and  Fancy  Di^y   Goods  Store 

IN   THE   CITY. 

We  carry  the  Largest  Stock  of  READY  TRIMMED  GOODS  to  be  found  in  town,  and  we 
guarantee  Lowest  Prices.  Children's  and  Misses'  Trimmed  Hats  a  Specialty.  Infants'  Bonnets  from 
25  cents  to  $3.00. 

C.  H.  DOTEN. 
Oculists'    Prescriptions   Accurately    Killed. 


c'^^^^V-MT^^^'^^^* 


SEND  ADDRESS  AND  BE  FITTED  AT  YOUR  OWN  RESIDENCE 

IF  YOU  DESIRE. 


the  horse  down  the  steep 
part  of  South  street  were 
afterwards  measured  and 
tound  to  cover  eighteen  feet. 
In  his  flight  Goodridge  lost 
his  hat,  which  the  Indians 
secured,  and  ten  years  later 
it  was  found  on  the  head 
of  an  Indian  captured  some- 
where near  the  Connecticut 
river.  Deacon  Kimball  lost  no  time  in  heeding  the  cry  of  his  brother 
deacon,  and  while  the  attention  of  the  Indians  was  directed  to  the  latter 
took  to  the  woods  and  by  dint  of  good  running  escaped  although  the  bullets 
whistled  uncomfortably  near. 

From  Page's  garrison  the  alarm  was  immediately  given  (three  muskets, 


43 


(B5|1:Brown  51  €o 


siiiiiiiiffliwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin^^^^ 


heavily  loaded,  discharged  with  a  certain  interval 
between  each  report)  and  the  Indians,  retreating 
to  Rollstone  Hill,  seeing  the  commotion  below  and 
people  flocking  in,  took  up  their  march  for  the 
north,  making  a  circuit  through  Westminster, 
where  they  killed  and  scalped  a  man  named 
Bowman,  who  was  at  work  in  a  field,  then  pressed 
on  rapidly  and  overtook  their  companions  with 
Fitch  before  they  reached  Montreal. 

Of  the  descendants  of  Deacon  David  Good- 
ridge  there  is  now  living  in  Fitchburg  one  great-grandson,  Mr.  Alonzo  P. 
Goodrich.  His  brother,  John  Goodrich,  died  in  this  city  in  April,  1888,  at 
the  age  of  nearly  80  years.  Mr.  Goodrich  bore  the  name  of  his  father  and 
grandfather,  and  a  son  and  grandson  were  also  named  John.  Two  of  his 
sons  reside  in  Fitchburg,  Henry  A.  Goodrich,  the  well-known  clothier,  and 


45 


H.  A.  Q-OODRICH  &  CO., 


CLOTHIERS,    HATTERS   AND    FURRIERS. 


Col.  Geo.  E.  Goodrich.    Alonzo  P.  Goodrich  resided  for  51  years  in  the  house 
on  the  Palmer  place,  which  was  built  by  his  grandfather,  Joshua  Pierce,  and 

thirty-one  years  in  his  present  residence. 
He  acquired  the  farm  from  his  grandfather 
by  will,  and  this  is  probably  the  only  in- 
stance within  the  city  limits  where  land  has 
had  but  two  proprietors  since  it  was  tirst 
cleared.  At  the  time  the  deed  was  given 
the  farm  was  bounded  on  all  sides  by 
"common  land."  Mr.  Goodrich  is  reliable 
authority  on  matters  connected  with  the 
history  of  Fitchburg,  and  to  him  the  writer 
is  indebted  for  the  verification  of  many  of 
the  facts  here  given.  Edwin  A.  Goodrich, 
son  of  Alonzo  P.,  has  a  brick  yard  on  the 
JOHN  GOODRICH.  old  Goodrich  farm. 


47 


D.  H.  JOEL,   ^   Druqgist. 


Pure  Dnips,  Medicines  and   Chemicals. 


TRUSSES,  SUPPORTERS,  SUSPENSORY  BANDAGES,  ELASTIC  STOCKINGS,  ETC. 
A  FULL  LINE  OF  WILSON'S  HERBS  CONSTANTLY  IN  STOCK. 

Physicians'  •   Prescriptions  •  and   •  Orders  •  carefully  *  attended  *  to. 
PROPRIETOR  OF  HONDURAS  SARSAPARILLA 

AN^DR.  BRIGHAM'S  COUGH  SYRUP. 


WE    MARK   A    SPECIALTY    OF   THE    FOLLOWING   ARTICLES: 

BEEF,  WINE  AND  IRON,  DERMILAVE  (for  Chapped  Hands,  etc.), 

EXTRACT  WITCH   HAZEL,  JOEL'S  DIARRHCEA  MIXTURE, 

COM  P.  LICORICE  POWDER,  COMPOUND  ALKALINE  SOLUTION. 


D.  H.  JOEL, 

207   MAIN  STREET,  KITCHBURQ,  MASS. 


A  favorite  rendezvous  of  the  savages  in  this  vicinity  during  the  early 
days  of  the  settlements  was  Wachusett  mountain,  in  the  neighboring  town 

of    Princeton.       Their 


camping  ground  was 
on  the  northeast  side, 
near  the  margin  of 
Wachusett  lake.  Here 
their  council  fires  were 
lighted,  expeditions 
planned  and  treaties 
made,  and  here  Mrs. 
Rowlandson  remained 
for  some  time  after  her 
captivity,  until  she  w^as 
ransomed.     Not  only  was  King  Philip  with  her  captors  but  several  of  the 

A9 


WACHUSETT  KENNELS, 


IMI'URTEKS,    BREEDERS    AM)    DEALERS    IN 


DOGS^ 


^^^ 


OF  EVERY  DESCRIPTION. 


Sick  Dogs  Treated  and    Surgical    Operations  Skilfully    Performed. 
Dogs  Boarded  by  the  Day  or  Week. 

WACHUSETT  KENNELS,     -      FITCHBURG,  MASS. 

E.   F.  STARKEY  &  CO.,  Proprietors. 


51 


HACKS 

For    Weddings,    Funerals,    Etc. 

BAR&ES  FOE  PICSICS  AKD  PARTIES, 

Single  and  Double   Teams  to  let  at  Reasonable  Rates. 


leading  chiefs,  a  nong 

them  Qjiinnapin,   the 

master  of  Mrs.  Row- 

landson,  and  his  wife, 

the  celebrated  "Squaw 

Sachim"    Metamo, 

"  Qjieen    of  Pocasset,"    next   to    Philip    in    influence    and    cruelty.        Mrs. 

Rowlandson,    in    her    quaint    narrative  "Twenty    Removes,"  refers    to  her 

mistress  as  "A  severe  and  proud  dame,  bestowing  every  day  in  dressing 

herself  near  as  much  time  as  any  of  the  Gentry  of  the  Land,  powdering 

her  Hair  and  painting  her  Face." 

Mrs.  Rowlandson  was  here  when  the  Indians  returned  from  Marlboro 
and  was  present  at  the  grand  pow-wow  both  before  and  after  the  attack  on 
Sudbury.  The  ransom  of  Mrs.  Rowlandson  was  secured  through  the 
efforts   of  Mr.  John  Hoar,  who  bravely    came  among    the  hostile  savages 


S3 


JOHN  GILLESPIE, 

DEALER    IN 

PIANOS, 

ORGANS, 

AND  ALL  KINDS  OF 

MUSICAL  INSTRUMENTS. 


SEWIN&  MACHINES, 

Needles,  Parts,  etc.,  for  all 

kinds  of  Machines. 

Pianos  and  Machines  to 

Rent. 

Tuning,' Repairing,  etc.,  by 

Competent  Workmen. 

191  Main  Street, 
Fitchburg. 


and  opened  negotiations  for  her  release,  which  was  effected,  after  a  great 
deal  of  ceremony  and  delay,  at  a  place  tradition  locates  in  a  meadow  near 
a  huge  bowlder,  since  known  as  "Redemption  Rock,"  and  near  the  shores 
of  the  pond  of  the  same  name.  It  is  said  that  Philip  opposed  the  release  of 
the  captive,  and  that  Mr.  Hoar  was  obliged  to  conciliate  Qjiinnapin  with  a 
pint  of  rum,  upon  which  he  at  once  got  beastly  intoxicated.  The  details  of 
the  negotiation  are  not  known,  but  Mr.  Hoar  at  last  succeeded  in  obtaining 
the    release    of  Mrs.  Rowlandson    and    her    return  t^  Lancaster.       In    the 

summer  of  1880  Hon. 
George  F.  Hoar  of 
Worcester,  who  is  a  de- 
scendant of  John  Hoar 
of  Concord,  purchased 
about  half  an  acre  of 
land,  in   the    center    of 


55 


:  jiiiiil:iiiii  ..ill  jiJiiii  ::jiiiiii  j^iiii  .iiiiiiiiiiiiii  ::;^^^^^^^^ 


S.  E.  BRIGHAM, 


HORSE  SHOEING. 


BLACKSMITH. 


Business  Established  iSyo. 


CARRIAGE  IRON  WORK. 


Brook  St.,  Fitchburg. 


|||||i||l||i||l||llllll1llllin!|||||{ 


CHESTER  F.  BROWN, 

(Formerly  of  firm  of  Bkown  &  Stone,  Central  St.) 

Carriage,  Sign  and  Ornamental 

paInter 


special  Attention  given 

to  Fine  Carrias^es. 


All  orders  promptly  attended  to. 
Sleighs  stored   free   of  charge,  if  allowed    to 
varnish. 

51  ACADSMT  ST.,  flTCHBURG, 


which  "Redemption 
Rock"  is  located.  The 
location  of  this  rock  is 
near  Everettville,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  road, 
only  a  short  distance  from 
the  highway.  Upon  one 
side,  which  rises  some  twelve  feet  from  the  ground,  is  engraved  the  follow- 
ing inscription  :  "Upon  this  rock.  May  2,  1676,  was  made  the  agreement 
for  the  release  of  Mrs.  Mary  Rowlandson  of  Lancaster,  between  the 
Indians  and  John  Hoar  of  Concord.  King  Philip  was  with  the  Indians  but 
refused  his  consent." 

Hanaford,  the  Historian  of  Princeton,  relates  that  about  the  time  of 
the  revolution  a  daughter  of  a  Mr.  Keyes,  aged  four  years  and  eight 
months,  wandered  off  and   became    lost    in    the  Wachusett    woods.       The 


57 


Office  Hours  : 
8  a.  m.  to  8  p.  m. 

Sundays,   lo  to  3. 


nS^'vo- 


DBNTISTS, 


191   IVIain  Street,   Kitchbt,irg. 

BEST  TEETH  $7  A  SET.     Perfect  Work  and 
Satisfaction  Guaranteed. 


Filling  at   Reasonable  Rates. 

Extracting  25  cents. 
Gas  and   Ether  Administered. 


The^nlyjioMVater  System  combining  all  the  advantages 
of  Steam  with  Hot  Water  Circulation. 


S^-F\>j>xv. 


Owing  to  large  purchases  of  pipes  and   fittings,  jx  T^-        1    1 

""  ":ny'':.h':/ir,l,7"J„tr '""     l  dox  1504,  hitchburg,  Mass. 


^^^S 


people  for  thirty  miles  around  col- 
lected and  tor  weeks  searched  for 
her,  but  without  success,  nothing  of 
the  child  was  ever  discovered,  and 
the  parents  believed  she  had  been 
carried  off  b}-  the  Indians.  This 
was  made  more  probable  by  the 
story  of  two  men,  who,  years  after, 
on  a  trading  expedition  to  Canada 
related  on  their  return  that  they 
found  living  among  the  Indians  a 
white  woman  who  knew  nothing 
further  of  her  birth  or  parentage, 
than  that  she  once  lived  near 
"'Chuselt  Hill." 


6i 


MANUFACTURER  OF  AND  DEALER  IN 

NEW  AND  SECOND-HAND 

Carriages,  Buggies  and  Wagons, 

BUCKBOARDS,  ROAD  CARTS,    FUNGS 
AND  SLEIGHS. 


fACTORT  AND  MErOSITORIES: 

106    LUNENBURG    vST., 


FlTCHBURG. 


GO     TO     THE 

Public  Markkt 

CHOICE  MEATS  I  PROVISIONS, 

FRUITS,    VEGETABLES,    BUTTER,    CHEESE     AND 

EGGS,  AT  WHOLESALE  AND  RETAIL. 

ALL  GOODS  DELIVERED. 

L.  A.  COUSINS,  "  Workingman's  Friend," 

Telephone  Call  114-4.  177   MAIN  ST..  FITCHBURG. 


The  elevation  of  Mt.  Wachusett  is  2,480  feet  above  the  sea  level,  the 
highest  of  the  range  of  hills  which  extend  across  the  state  from  north 
to  south. 

The  view  from  the  summit  extends  over  portions  of  six  states,  and  in 

a  clear  day  it  is  said 
nearly  three  hundred 
cities  and  villages  can 
be  distinguished.  The 
great  majority  of  these 
are  in  the  direction 
of  north-east,  east  and 
south-east ;  the  vast 
panorama  extending 
from  the  interior  to 
2Jgi  the  sea-coast. 


63 


WashacuiTi 
LAKE,  -  GROVE  -  AND  -  PARK, 

Sterling,  Mass. 

Open-  for  Picnics  from  Mav   15TH  to  October   ist,  Each  Year. 


The;ie   Giuiuuls,  romiu  isinsi-  about  3.")  Acres  of  droves  and    Lawns,  situaU-il   on   the  shores  of    the  Iteautiful 

Lake  ■\Vasiia(  u.m,  are  the  Coolest  and 

BEST  APPOINTED  PICNIC  GROUNDS  IN  THE  STATE. 

As  a  srMJIER  RESORT  tliev  are  unexceUed,  and  are  gaining  in  popular  favor  every  year.  Every  facility 
foi  si)endin<'-a  plea-^ant  dav  or  evening.  Tlie  Lake,  tlie  cool  breezes  f rom  whidi  make  the  grounds  delightful 
even  in  tlic  hottest  weather",  is  one  of  the  finest  an<l  next  to  the  largest  in  the  state.    On  the  grounds  are  a  Dance 


Boston  am'i  Maine  Railroad.    Xo  change  of  cars. 

LIQUORS  AND  HOP  BEER  NOT  ALLOWED  ON  THE  GROUNDS. 
Not  Open  Sundays.     \   liiniited  Number  of  Boarders  Acconimodated. 

JOHN    W.    OGDEN,  Proprietor  and  Manager. 

p.  O.  Address,  FITCHBURG,  MASS. 


Washacum  lakes 
in     Sterling     were 
also  the  favorite  re- 
sort of  the  Indians. 
:  Here,  just  between 
:  the  two  lakes,  was 
2  the  capital  of  Sho- 
p  Ian  Sachem  of  the 
|—  Nashaways      or 
iSNashawogs.      It 
was  at  his  instance 
that  the  first  Eng- 
lish   settlement    in 

the  limits  of  the    county  was  made.       In    the  wigwam  of   Sholan  Indian 
councils  were  held  and  the  grounds  around  it  were  devoted  to  Indian  sports, 


65 


r€)Ks\m\\\\\\\s\v^^r 


^UNDERTAKERS 

And  Funeral  Director. 
OiJitltoUc  ^itnature  ami  ^eligiouisi 


Pictures  and  Picture  Frames  sold.      Pictures 
Framed  to  Order. 


•f  1i4  W^TE^  ^'F^EET.'f 


games,  and  "regattas"  were  held  on  the  waters  of  the  lake.  Here  was 
located  an  Indian  church,  and  by  invitation  of  Sholan,  a  trader  of  Water- 
town  built  a  "trucking  house"  near  by  and  opened  a  store. 

The  old  Sagamore  and  his  son  dying,  the  new  Sachem,  Matthew  or 
Sagamore  Sam,  a  nephew  of  Sholan  and  a  very  different  kind  of  an 
Indian,  became  an  easy  dupe  of  Philip.  In  his  wigwam  between  the  lakes 
the  plan  was  laid  for  the    utter  destruction  of  Lancaster. 

The  first  naval  battle  on  the  inland  waters  of  Massachusetts  was  fought 
at  Washacum.  In  May,  1776,  Captain  Henchman  when  marching  towards 
the  Connecticut  valley  was  informed  that 
there  was  a  party  of  hostile  Indians  at  this 
lake.  He  turned  hither  and  surprised  a 
party  in  their  canoes  taking  fish.  He  led 
an  instant  attack  upon  them,  killing  seven 
and  taking  twenty-nine  prisoners. 


67 


ooooooooo 

ATLANTIC  TEA  CO. 

WHOLESALE   AND    RETAIL    DEALERS    IN 

JTine  i-  n^a8,  ^  @ffee8, 

Orocl?ery,     tfloss     ^^     "«:^ 

AND 

^•:-     ^iJ-     Plated     Ware. 


227  Main  Street, 

FitchMrg, 

Mass. 

F.  A.  BLANCH ARD,   Proprietor. 

o     o     o     o 

o 

o     o     o 

o 

J.    R.    HOSMER, 

^Contractor 

ai](l  •!•  Builder-^- 


27  Newton  Place, 


Fitchbnrg. 


■|tj>^gj^> 


EARLY  DAYS  IN  THE  SETTLEMENT. 


OR  many  years  after  the  Indians  ceased  to  trouble  the 
settlement  the  best  energies  of  the  inhabitants  were  given 
to  the  work  of  subduing  the  wilderness.  The  story  of 
these  early  labors  has  a  peculiar  fascination  to  us,  their 
descendants,  although  lacking  the  same  interest  elicited  by 
the  recital  of  Indian  atrocities. 

The  wilderness  lay  before  them,  the  lonely  and  solemn 
woods  used  for  generations  b}^  the  Indians  as  a  hunting 
ground,  the  stillness  at  last  broken  by  the  ringing  tones  of 
the  axe  and  the  sound  of  falling  timber,  accompanied  by  the  echoes  of  the 
voices  of  the  woodmen  at  their  work  ;  then  came  the  time  for  burning  the 
dry  trunks  and  branches,  the  planting  of  barley  and  corn,  the  building  of 

69 


H.   F.   BOUTWELL, 


i8g  MAIN  STREET,  FITCHBURG,  MASS. 


DEC 


"I'eilefe   ^pMeles,    Seaps     Berfun^epy,    ele. 


Drijiggists'   Stindries.  • 


Prescriptions  Carefully  Compounded,     .... 

.     .     .     And  Orders  Answered  with  Care  and  Despatch. 


houses  and  barns,  walls,  fields,  and  roads, 
and  in  the  course  of  time,  when  the  stump- 
age  had  become  sufficiently  decayed,  re- 
moving the  charred  stumps  and  roots  by 
the  use  of  oxen  and  heavy  chains,  then 
levelling  the  land,  removing  the  stones,  and 
at  last  introducing  the  plough  ;  after  this 
followed  the  various  processes  of  planting, 
the  setting  out  of  fruit  trees  and  vines,  until 
the  wilderness  was  made  to  blossom  as  the  rose. 

Only  those  who  have  lived  in  frontier  towns  can  appreciate  the  toil 
incident  to  the  opening  of  such  a  wilderness.  One  writer  of  New  England 
history  has  said:  "An  immense  amount  of  the  most  exhausting  labor  must 
be  expended  in  the  process.  The  world  looks  with  wonder  on  the  dykes 
of  Holland,  the  wall  of  China,  the  pyramids  of  Egypt ;    I  do  not  hesitate 


71 


-W  W-  ■W  ^|F^  ^(F  ^(f  ^IF  ^|F  ^(F 

I.  C.  WRIGHT  &  CO. 

HARDWARE 

AND 

MANUFACTURERS   SUPPLIES. 

135  MAIN  STREET,  FITCHBURG. 

^T^  T'  f^  f^  1^  "f  ■  f  H  #1^  ^f^  W^ 


to  sav  that  the  results  produced  by  the 
small,  scattered  population  of  the  American 
colonies,  during  the  first  century,  in  tearing 
up  the  wilderness  by  the  roots,  transferring 
the  rocks  with  which  the  surface  was 
covered  into  walls,  opening  roads,  building 
bridges,  and  making  a  rough  and  broken 
country,  smooth  and  level,  converting  a 
sterile  waste  into  fertile  fields,  blossoming  with  verdure  and  grain  and 
fruitage,  is  a  more  wonderful  monument  of  human  industry  and  perse- 
verance than  them  all.  It  was  the  work,  not  of  mere  hired  laborers,  still 
less  of  servile  minions,  but  of  freemen,  owning  or  winning  by  their 
voluntary  and  cheerful  toil  the  acres  on  which  they  labored,  and  thus 
entitling  themselves  to  be  the  sovereigns  of  the  country  they  were  creating." 
During  the  early  years   of  the   settlement  there   were  only   a   sufficient 


73 


FOR  FORTY-FIVE   YEARS 

THE 

4^I^utaal  jgenefit  Life  Insurance  ©mpan^'^ 

OK    NEW^ARK,     N.    J. 

Has  been  airuestly  mid  actively  at  zvork.  During  the  zvhole  of  this  period  its 
record  lias  been  clean,  its  affairs  have  been  managed  with  great  prudence  and 
ability^  and  the  results  realised  by  policy-holders  have  been  satisfactory  in  the 
highest  degree.  By  its  Just  dealings  it  has  ivon  the  confidence  of  the  best  men  in 
every  locality  in  zvJiich  it  has  dojie  business.  Those  who  desire  to  find  a  co?i- 
servatively  managed  Company,  ivhere  the  claims  of  policy-Jiolders  receive  broad 
consideration,  canjiot  do  better  than  at  the  office  of 

E.  W.  YOUNG,   140  MAIN   STREET, 

Who  is  the  Special  Agent  for  this  city  and  vicinity. 


number  of  mechanics  to  do  the 
absolutely  necessary  repairs,  to 
dress  the  cloth,  which  was  home- 
spun and  made  in  the  family,  to 
do  the  blacksmithing,  make  thel^^oV;" 
ploughs  and  other  farming  im-  *  ^^ 
plements,  to  make  and  mend  the 
custom  shoes,  etc.  It  was  a 
common  practice  for  the  shoe- 
maker to  pack  up  his  "kit"  and 
go  from  house  to  house,  making 
up  the  shoes  for  the  year. 

Nearly  every  farmer  had  his 
field  of  flax,  and  some  had  flax 
to  sell.     The  wives  and  daughters 


75 


'■'■  JfT^ 


EVEN  THE  BABIES 

Laugh  at  the  joy  we  cause  their  parents 
by  our  prices.  We  warrant  every  article 
we  sell,  have  one  price  for  all,  refund  the 
money  on  all  goods  not  satisfactory,  and 
ii^vC'l.  have  never  yet  been  obliged  to  lower  our 
prices  to  prevent  being  undersold. 


GLOBE  ONE  PRICE  CLOTHING  HOUSE, 


197  MAIN  STREET, 


FITCHBURG. 


E.     BLOI3GETT, 


Proprietor. 


made  cloth  of  it  for  the  family, 
and  the  boys  at  an  early  age 
learned  to  brake  and  swinge  it. 
The  early  houses  of  the 
settlement  were  one-story, 
with  stone  chimneys,  and  built 
principally  of  logs,  and  the 
windows  in  many  of  them 
were  of  oiled  paper  instead  of 
glass.  The  interiors  were  un- 
finished and  almost  destitute  of  furnishing,  the  benches,  tables  and 
chairs  being  home  made.  The  chimneys  were  large  enough  in  most 
cases  to  allow  of  seats  inside  the  fireplace,  where  a  person  sitting  in 
the  evening  could  watch  the  stars  through  the  top  of  the  chimney. 
The    cooking     was    done     principally    in     iron     pots     and     kettles,    which 


77 


A.    B.    LAWRENCE    &    CO. 


UNDER    THE 


HAVE   $50,000   WORTH 


OF 


HARDWARE  AND  MILL  SUPPLIES, 

AT    BOTTOM    PRICIf.S. 

216  MAIN  STREET,  FITCHBURG,  MASS. 


hung  over  the  fire  on  a  swinging  Crane  suspended    by  hooks  of  different 

lengths.       Wild    game,    fowls,  and    sometimes  pigs,  |g 

were  roasted  or  spitted  whole,  the  spit,  an  iron   rod 

sharp  at  one  end,  being  thrust  through  the  meat  and 

turned  about  before  the  fire  while  it  roasted.     Meati 

was    also    broiled 


contact  with  the  live 
coals,  and  corn  bread 
or  pancakes  were  has- 
tily prepared  in  pans 
and  also  baked  before 
the  coals.  The  bak- 
ing, including  the 
brown  bread  and  beans, 
was  done  to  a  nicety  in 


79 


\ir§; 


hy^^^i  ■' 


MANUKA<Tl'KKKS    OF 


Railroad,  Machine  Tools 


SPECIAL    METAL   WORKING    MACHINERY. 

CHAS.  F.  PUTNAM,  Pres't. 
■'    SALMON  W.  PUTNAM,    Vice-Fres't. 

HENRY  0.  PUTNAM,   Treas. 
GEORGE  E.  PUTNAM,  Gen.  Supt. 


^^^ 

^^^^ 

^^M 

^^^ 

j,%-[l%n/^^BM 

^SPf.ffrf^           (^ 

the  brick  oven  adjoining.  The 
tinder-box  and  flint  were  used  for 
lighting  the  fire  and  the  bellows 
to  fan  it  into  a  blaze.  The  an- 
cient iron  candle  sticks  or  tallow 
dips  stood  on  the  mantle  piece,  and  above  on  wooden  pegs  hung  the  old 
flint-lock  musket  and  powder  horn.  The  piggin,  skillet,  and  other  roughly 
constructed  articles  of  culinary  use;  the  tin  lantern,  candle  and  bullet 
moulds  ;  mortar  and  pestle,  hour  glass,  the  steelyards,  the  birch  broom,  the 
iron  fire  shovel  and  tongs,  and  other  articles  of  daily  use  either  hung  on  the 
walls  or  stood  in  their  accustomed  places.  The  bare  floor  and  the  wooden 
settle,  the  dresser  with  its  pewter  plates,  platters,  etc.,  the  reel  and  quill- 
wheel,  the  wooden  churn,  straight  back  chairs,  the  old  eight-day  clock  in 
the  corner,  were  familiar  objects  in  nearly  every  New  England  home. 

The  monotony  of  life  in  the  settlement  was  varied  by  occasional  social 


8i 


BROWNELL  &  MASON, 

'If  U  MB  I  MO  #  MEil/PINa, 


159  MAIN  STREET,  FITGHBURG. 


gatherings,  in  which  labor  and 
merrymaking  went  hand  in  hand. 
The  old  fashioned  husking  and 
quilting  parties  were  looked  forward 
to  and  indulged  in  by  all,  men, 
women  and  children  alike  entering 
into  the  enjoyment  of  the  occasion. 
After  the  hay  and  grain  were  gath- 
ered and  the  corn  and  pumpkins 
were  harvested,  then  came  the  merry 
^  husking  party.  When  the  corn  had 
^^»-w,i».  been  brought  into  the  corn  house  or 
barn  and  arranged  in  convenient  rows  and  heaps  an  evening  was  appointed 
for  the  husking.  Towards  the  close  of  the  appointed  day  the  neighbors, 
old  and  young,  for  miles  around  began  to  assemble.     They  came  in  wagons 


83 


^^    ^(»lotlncF84 


H^itter.s  .#  Qcnts'  Furnisl^ers. 


146  Main   St.,    Fitchburg. 


and  carts,  or  on  horseback,  clad 
in  plain  homespun,  and  at  early 
twilight  began  their  merry  labors. 
The  red  ear  was  industriously 
sought,  as  it  entitled  the  finder  to 
salute  each  fair  maiden  in  the  room. 
The  ladies  of  course  were  allowed 
the  same  privilege,  but  seldom 
availed  themselves  of  it.  Some  un- 
fortunate young  man,  however,  after 
hunting  in  vain  would  find  his 
sweetheart  equal  to  the  emergency, 
a  red  ear  woulo  find  its  way  into  his  hand,  and  the  generous  young  lady 
would  be  repaid  by  the  first  kiss.  Sometimes  there  would  be  a  scarcity  of 
red  ears,  in  which  case  recourse  would  be  had  to  a 'choice  collection  from 


85 


Hot  Water 

AND 

Steam  Heating 
a  Specialty. 


G.  M.  PARKS, 

Steam  and  Gas  Fitter 

and  Phimber. 

24  and  26  Newton  Place,  Fitchburg. 


r^r_^-  BUILDINGS  .  FITTED  .    WITH  .  AUTOMATIC 

.     .     SPRINKLERS.     .     . 


All  orders  by  day  or  night  promptly  attended   to. 

G.  M.  PARKS,  Residence   157  Green  St. 


the  garret  which  had  seen  active 
service  in  times  gone  by,  and  which 
although  showing  signs  of  age 
were  too  welcome  to  excite  suspi- 
cion or  inquiry.  The  young  men 
found  exercise  for  their  gallantry  in 
helping  their  fair  companions  to 
corn  from  the  heap,  and  in  remov- 
ing the  accumulation  of  husks ; 
then  there  were  songs  and  stories 
and  gossip ;  sometimes  the  whole 
company  were  in  breathless  silence 
while  some  old  veteran  slowly  rehearsed  a  tragic  tale  of  Indian  warfare  and 
blood,  and  then  the  whole  house  would  resound  with  loud  peals  of  laughter 
which    followed    some  comical  story  or   bright  flash  of  wit.       Those  who 


87 


s 


m  E-i 
H  O 

10 


"G^ 


O 


P3 

H 

E-" 
I— I 

P^ 


H 
P4 
>^ 

E-i 


=^  fP 


a;   3 

^  o 


could  not  rehearse  incidents  even  of 
doubtful  heroism  in  the  army,  had 
their  fund  of  divers  anecdotes  of 
struggles  with  bears,  minks,  wild- 
cats, foxes,  musquash  and  coons. 
After  the  labors  of  the  evening  were 
finished,  the  company  repaired  to 
the  house,  where  the  tables  were 
loaded  down  with  cake  and  dough- 
nuts and  pies,  the  pumpkin  pies 
baked  in  great,  deep  platters,  and 
the  best  cheese  reserved  to  be  cut 
on  this  occasion.  After  a  hearty  repast,  at  which  coffee  and  cider  were 
bountifully  supplied,  the  kitchen  was  cleared  of  furniture  and  the  festivities 
wound  up  with  "blind-man's  buff"  and  other  sports,  or  the  old  folks  were 


F.  S.  LOVELL  MACHINE  WOEKS, 


MANrFACTlKEK    (IK    I'l.INTS    TATKNT 


Saw-Mills  and  Saw-Mill  Dogs, 

Shingle  and  Automatic  Box-Board   Machinery, 


F.  S.  LOVELL, 


87  BOUTELLE  STREET,  FITCHBURG. 


dismissed  and  the  rest    of  the  time 
devoted  to  dancing. 

As  the  long  winter  evenings 
drew  on  social  gatherings  became 
I  more  frequent,  neighbors  would 
assemble  at  the  house  of  some  one 
of  their  number  and  by  their  united 
labor  accomplish  in  a  single  evening 
what  it  would  have  taken  the  family 
months  to  do.  The  patchwork  quilt- 
ing would  all  be  done,  the  corn  and 
nuts  all  shelled,  the  young  birch 
stripped  down  in  their  strands  and  birch  brooms  enough  made  to  last  a  year 
in  house  and  barn,  and  many  other  usetul  offices  rendered.  Outside  of  these 
occasions,  in    which    labor  and  jollity  were  mingled,  the  games  and  amuse- 


91 


Cabinets  of  Children 

A  Specialty. 


as  I  use  the  instantaneous 
process.  I  also  still  make 
the  Tintype. 


5&' 


J 


ments  were  few 
and  simple. 
Ma  n  y  of  the 
young  men  were 
experts  at  the 
games  of  ball, 
such  as  base  and 
football.  Shovel- 
board,  domino, 
backgammon , 
fox    and    geese, 

and     checkers  _^^__^^^,,^^^^_ 
were  common  home  amusements.     The  old  fashioned  New  England  winter 
gave  opportunity  for  sleighing,  skating  and  coasting;. 


93 


'"%sl^ 


95 


HENRY  B.  DYER. 

PRACTICAL  ROOFER, 


ONLY  AGENT  FOR 


Bee  Hive  ^^^m    Brand 

FELT  AND  COMPOSITION  ROOFING. 

Also,  Tarred  and  Dry  Sheathing  Papers  of  the  Best  Quality. 

Materials  manufactured  by  the  New  England  Felt  Roofing  Co. 


OFFICE  COR.  HOWARD  AND  PRESCOTT  STS.,  FFFCHBURG. 


LAWS,  CUSTOMS,  AND  DRESS. 


T  would  seem  that  our  forefathers  were  not  inclined  to  place 
a  premium  on  dishonesty  and  crime,  at  all  events  they  provided 
laws  which  were  exceedingly  troublesome  to  offenders,  and 
rendered  the  indulgence  of  profanity,  lying.  Sabbath  breaking, 
and  kindred  habits,  extremely  dangerous.  One  favorite  in- 
strument of  punishment,  the  pillory,  consisted  of  a  wooden 
frame  in  which  the  offender's  head  and  hands  were  made  fast ; 
the  victim  being  thus  exposed  to  public  ridicule.  The  ducking- 
stool  was  used  in  some  places  for  the  punishment  of  women  who  were 
scolds  or  slanderers.  Blasphemy  was  sometimes  punished  by  placing  the 
tongue  of  the  swearer  in  the  opening  of  a  split  stick. 

The    stocks  were    also  used  to    discourage   petty    offenders,  and  cages 


97 


Massachusetts  Mutual  Aid  Society 

OK     KITCHBURG.     VLASS. 

OFFICE    NO.    210    MAIN    STREET. 

Incorporated  under  Massachusetts  Laws,  Feb.  19,  1879. 


A  Purely  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Society.  Has  Twenty-Five  Hundred  Members. 


HENRY  A.  GOODRICH,  President.  H.  C.  HARTWELL,  Vice-President. 

F.  C.  CURRIER,  Secretary.  E.  B.  ROCKWOOD,  Treasurer. 

D.  S.  WOODWORTH,  M.  D.,  Medical  Direcior.  H.  C.  HARTWELL,  Solicitor. 


H.  F.  COGGSHALL,  Supt.  Fitcliburg  Gas 

Companv Fitchl)urg 

A.  S.   LA^VT(')^■,   Hciil  Kst.;itt>  Ajrciit 

GE0R(;K   KOI'.r.INS.  Mcrcliaiit 

HENRY   A.  (iDoDKICII,   Merchant 

H.  C.  HAKTWKLI.,    Si.licitor 

D.  S.  AVtJODWoKTlI.  I'livsic-ian 

JOSEPH  r.  FAKNSWOHTH,  Merchant... 
AARON  F.  WHITNEY 


BOAKD  OF  MANAGERS. 

F.  C.  CURRIER,  General  Insurance Fitchburg 

S.  W.  HUNTLEY,  Freight  Agt.  O.  C.  R.  R. 

(;E()RGE  H.  CHAPMAN;  Merchant " 

JAMES  M.  BLANCHARD 

F.  F.  WOODWARD 

JAMES  H.  PUTNAM Milford,  Mass. 

HERBERT  A.  CURRIER,  Insurance  Agen- 
cy of  A.  N.  Currier  &  Son Worcester 


for  the  imprisonment  of  crimi- 
nals before  jails  were  provided. 
The  time  selected  for  punish- 
ment in  the  pillory,  stocks  or 
cage  was  usually  some  public 
holiday  or  market  day,  and  in 
the  most  public  place,  to  make 
the  shame  greater. 

The  whipping  post  was 
also,  a  familiar  object  in  those 
days  and  in  the  case  of  more 
notorious  offenders  they  were 
given  a  liberal  number  of  stripes,  a  turn  at  the  pillory  and  an  hour's  sitting 
on  the  gallows  with  the  rope  around  the  neck. 

The  Sunday  laws  in  New  England  were  rigorously  enforced.      Tything- 


99 


Saddles, 

olottilna, 


FITCH BUR(i,  MASS. 


WHIPS  AND  STABLE  GOODS. 


men  with  a  staff  or  rod  in 
s=.  their  hands  kept  order  during 
the  Ion"-  services.  These 
rods  sometimes  had  a  ball  on 
one  end  and  a  fox  tail  on  the 
other.  The  men  of  the  con- 
gregation were  kept  awake 
by  a  tap  from  the  heavy  end, 
and  if  a  woman  was  caught 
p  napping  she  was  awakened 
by  the  fox  tail  brushing 
against  her  face. 

The  town  constituted  the  parish  in  those  early  days,  and  every  one  was 
expected  to  attend  church  regularly  and  constantly,  and  it  was  a  part 
of  the   duty    of  the    tything-man    to    look    up    absentees    and    bring   them 


^O^cr 


FOR. 

-^FINB     CLOTHING,-^ 

GENTS'  FURNISHINGS, 
HATS,  GAPS,  TRUNKS,  ROBES  AND  RUBBER  CLOTHING, 

VISIT 
LITCHFIELD    &    STEBBINS, 

Squaj'e  Dealing,    One  Price    Clothiers, 
120    MAIN    STREET,  FITCHBURG. 

BEST  GOODS.  LOWEST    POSSIBLE  PRICES. 


TEMPERANCE    HOTEL, 

m  MAIN  STREET,       -       FITGHBURG. 

(SECOND  DOOR  BELOW  CITY  HALL.) 

This  house  has  been  newly  fitted  up  throughout,  and  its  clean  and  home-like  style 
make  it  unexcelled  for  comfort  in  the  city.  The  quality  of  food  is  first  class,  and  as  no 
liquors  are  sold,  the  surroundings  are  particularly  inviting  to  ladies  shopping  in  town  and 
to  transient  customers  generally.  Regular  board  is  furnished  at  moderate  rates.  Rooms 
rented  and  board  furnished  on  either  European  or  American  plan, 

GEORGE    E.    HAYWARD,    Proprietor, 

(Formerly   Proprietor  of  the   Holly  Tree   Inn.) 


before  a  legal  tri- 
bunal if  necessary  to 
secure  their  attend- 
ance. 

The  seating  o( 
the  meeting-house, 
and  allotting  of  pews 
according  to  the  dig- 
nity and  wealth  of 
the  individual,  often 
created  dissatisfac- 
tion among  the  inhab- 
itants and  sometimes 
their  grievances  were 
the  subject  of  discus- 


105 


I  am  a  quiet  little  "drummer"  for  the  Noyes  Dictionary  Holders.  It  is  my  mission  to  call  attention 
to  the  fact  that  THESE  ARE  THE  ONLY  HOLDERS  THAT  HAV^E  STRONG  SPRINGS  TO  HUG 
THE  BOOK  FIRMLY  TOGETHER,  THUS  KEEPING  THE  DUST  OUT  OF  THE  UPTURNED 
EDGES.  The  possession  of  Noyes'  Dictionary  Holders  has  made  about  125,000  families  happy  and 
accurate  in  the  use  of  words.  Buy  a  Noyes  Dictionary  Holder  from  your  bookseller,  and  see  how  much 
more  frequently  you  will  refer  to  the  dictionary.  The  No.  19  is  finished  in  Oak  or  Walnut.  The  No.  i 
is  Solid  Brass  Wire.  The  No.  2  is  White  Finish  Wire  with  Tilting  Top.  The  No.  3  is  White  Finish 
Wire  with  Level  Top. 


sion  at  town  meet- 
ing. In  the  earliest 
meeting-houses  the 
men  and  women 
usually  sat  apart. 
The  galleries  were 
usually  free,  the  men 
and  boys  on  one  side 
and  the  women  and 
girls  on  the  other, 
with  the  singers'  seats  opposite  the  pulpit.  In  the  coldest  weather  there 
were  no  tires  for  heating  the  church,  but  many  of  the  people  brought  small 
tin  foot  stoves  in  which  coals  were  placed,  and  it  was  customary  to 
replenish  them  with  fresh  coals  at  the  neighboring  houses  as  occasion 
required. 


107 


A.  L,  WILLIAMS  &  CO. 


-AND- 


153  ABD  378  MAIN  STREET, 

SELL    FOK   THKIR    BEST    FLOURS 

Circle  C  for  Pastry  and  Bread, 

A.  L.  W.   &  Co.,   Superlative  and 

Columbia  for  the  very  best 

Bread  Flcur, 

And  at  the  lowest  prices  possilile  for  the  quality 

of  the  goofls.     One  trial  will  convince 

you  these  are  facts. 


GEORGE   Z.    PAGE, 


DEALER    IN 


PAPER  HANGINGS, 

WINDOW  SHADES, 

DRAPERIES, 


Picture  Mouldinos,  etc. 


New    Store,    Largest    Stock.       Special    attention 
paid  to  Paper  Hanging. 


359  ^^liai.i  Sttccl",  ftlcfiGticvn. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  EARLY  SETTLERS. 


jo  better  introduction  to  the  representative  men  of  Fitch- 
burg  of  a  century  ago  can  be  offered  than  that  of  Mr. 
Eben  Bailey  in  his  History  of  Fitchburg  :  "There  was 
no  'milk  and  water'  about  our  early  ancestors.  They 
came  here  to  struggle  with  the  forces  of  nature  when  to 
do  so  was  almost  a  struggle  for  life.  Their  natures, 
like  their  muscles,  were  toughened,  and  yet  they  were 
kindly,  genial  men,  who  could  be  touched  by  a  joy  or 
sorrow  as  truly  and  as  sensibly  as  we."  As  has  been  stated  the  first  settler 
was  David  Page.  His  father,  Samuel  Page,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Lunenburg,  and  was  universally  distinguished  by  the  honorable  title  of 
"Old  Governor  Page,"  and  his  faithful  subjects  comprised  his  wife,  Martha, 


109 


m  FOREjST  ^Tl^EET. 


and  six  promising  children.  We  conclude  his  residence  was  near  the  center 
of  the  town  ;  for  the  land  on  which  the  first  pound  was  built,  and  for  a 
"passage  to  and  from  the  same,"  was  purchased  of  him  and  the  Governor 
himself  was  elevated  to  the  office  of  pound-keeper. 

Of  the  very  early  settlers  very  litde  has  been  preserved.  Reference  has 
already  been  made  to  several  who  occupied  garrisons  or  fortified  houses  at 
an  early  date.     Amos  Kimball  and  his  cousin  Ephraim  came  to  Fitchburg 

from  Bradford,  and  built  a  grist  mill  on 

g^  the    Nashua  where    the  Joseph  Gushing 

i^  mill  now  stands.      The  dam  was  a  log 

'       about    forty    feet  long,    having    spileing 

driven    above,  confining   the  water  to  a 

narrow    channel    at   this    point.       They 

employed  one  Hodgkins  to  tend  the  mill 

he  building  a  little   hut  or  stall  near  by. 


w 


3PEAKING    JUBES 

ALL    KINDS    OF    ELECTRIC    WIRING    AND     REPAIRS. 

A.  H.  KIMBALL, 

FITCHBURG. 


TELEPHONES : 
OFFICE,    -     -     105-2 
RESIDENCE       27-4 


office: 

331     &     333     MAIN 
STREET. 


This  habitation  of  Hodgkins  was  the  first  dwelling  erected  in  what  is  now 
the  "old  city"  and  the  village  up  town  was  then  a  dense  forest,  not  a  single 
house  had  been  built.      None  of  the  descendants  of  Amos  Kimball  remain 

in    town,   but    the  descendants  of  Ephraim 
Kimball  in  Fitchburg  are  numerous. 

Mrs.  Harriet  Kimball,  widow  of -Alpheus 
Kimball,  and  mother  of  A.  P.,  William, 
and  Gen.  J.  W.  Kimball,  and  Mrs.  Richard 
H.  Torrey,  was  at  the  time  of  her  death 
97  years  of  age  and  the  oldest  person  in 
Fitchburg.  Her  memory  and  mental  fac- 
ulties were  remarkably  well  preserved  and 
having  resided  here  for  ninety  years  she 
remembered  clearly  events  at  the  beginning 
of  the  present  century. 


"3 


J.  E.  THOMPSON. 


fell 


:i  JilsT*  TS  /? 


'iM>mi 


m 


AND 


♦l-glank  I^ook  ^anufactuFen.-^* 


OFFICE  AND  COUNTING  ROOM  SUPPLIES. 


W^rappiog     Paper,     Bags     aod     Twine. 


News  Dealer  and  Subscription  Agent. 

118  MAIN  STREET,  FITCHBURG. 


Stephen  Shep- 
ley  in  a  carefully 
written  paper  on 
the  Indian  raid  in 
1748  says:  "On 
the  south-east- 
erly slope  of 
Pearl  Hill  the 
Gibsons  lived ; 
there  were  several 
brothers,  all  good 
fighting  men,  fa- 
mous    for     great 

strength  and  courage.     The  house  of  Isaac  Gibson  was  fortified  and  called 
Fort  Gibson,  and  could  aftbrd  protection  to  all  the  Gibsons  in  case  of  danger. 


"5 


IV E  HAVE  MADE  PICTURES 

In  Fitchburg  for  13  )'ears.  Our  aim  has  always  been  tu  please  our  customers;  tnat  we  have  succeeded 
is  shown  by  our  large  and  increasing  business.  We  tinish  Photographs  in  any  style  desired  or  suggested 
by  the  sitter.  We  do  the  finest  retouching  on  our  negatives;  this  you  will  see  by  observing  our  pictures. 
We  always  see  that  every  picture  of  an  order  is  perfect.     We  make  all  the  latest 

Stamp  Pictures,  Printing  on  Silk  and  Porcelain,  Watch  Dials,  etc. 

We  print  photographs  on  thin  sheets  of  celluloid  by  development.      This  makes  a  very  beautiful  picture 
and  is  the  latest  thing  out.     We  copy  all  kinds  of  old  pictures.     We  make 

L,arge  (Jroup  gictiire^  of  {Tamilieg, 

Lodges,  Societies,  etc.     We  do  all  grades  of 

And  furnish  Frames.  If  anything  is  not  right  we  make  it  right  here,  as  we  do  all  our  own  work.  We 
give  an  elegant  Mora  Stand  to  every  person  paying  the  regular  price  for  one  dozen  of  our  best  cabinets. 
We  are,  Artistically  yours, 

KIMBALL  BROTHERS, 

3553^  MAIN  STRFET,  STILES'  BLOCK.  FITCHBURG,  MASS. 


On  the  brow  of  Pearl  Hill  the  Indians  anxiously  looked  down  upon  the 
Gibsons  and  longed  to  lay  hands  on  them,  but  these  giants,  whose  size  and 
strength  would  have  done  iionor  to  the  days  of  chivalry,  were  hardy  looking 

men,"  and    to    use   the  words  of  one  of  their  de- 
scendants,   "The  Indians  didn't  dare  tackle  them." 

In  a  kind  of  cave  on  the  hill  were  afterwards 
found  a  gun  barrel  and  axe,  and  several  imple- 
ments of  Indian  manufacture, — supposed  to  have 
been  left  there  on  that  occasion. 

Reuben  Gibson,  who  lived  on  Pearl  Hill,  went 
to  his  home  and  said  to  his  wife,  "The  Indians  are  about,  I  must  go  with 
you  to  a  place  of  safety."  He  took  his  horse  from  the  barn,  put  on  saddle 
and  pillion,  both  mounted  and  were  off  at  once.  As  soon  as  he  had  seen 
his  wife  safe  with  her  friends  he  returned  and  found  everything  unmolested  ; 
even  the  bread  his  good  wife  had    placed    in  the  oven  that  morning  was 


117 


]^akeF,  f  @iifectioneF-4 

>^aiKl  f  @teFeF. 

l^oods   cllways    Hresb   and   tl}e    Qaraest    Oissortment. 

Brown  Bread  and  Beans  hot  every  Sunday  morning.       Hot  Rolls  and  Doughnuts   every   day.      Orders 
taken  and  delivered  to  any  part  of  the  city. 

Birthday  and  Wedding  Cake  a  Specialty. 

32  DAY  STREET,  FITCHBURG,  MASS. 


,    _  .,  ,  —  ,   ,_ - .  ._,^, ,_..  ( — 1      baked  and  ready  for  use.      The    personal 

)/\  ^I^Wt        d  prowess  of  these  brothers    was  proverbial. 

^C-/         /^&^^k  j^^^'       1      Rufus  Torrey  relates  that,  on  one  occasion, 

Isaac  Gibson  in  his  rambles  on  Pearl  Hill 
found  a  bear's  cub,  which  he  immediately 
seized  and  was  about  to  carry  away  when 
the  mother  of  the  cub  came  to  the  rescue 
of  her  offspring.  Gibson  retreated  and 
and  the  bear  attacked  him  in  the  rear,  to 
the  manifest  detriment  of  his  pantaloons ; 
this  finally  compelled  him  to  face  his  unwelcome  antagonist  and  they 
closed  in  a  more  than  fraternal  embrace.  Gibson,  being  the  most  skilful 
wrestler  of  the  two,  "threw"  bruin  and  they  came  to  the  ground  together. 
Without  relinquishing  their  hug  both  man  and  beast  now  rolled  over 
each    other   to    a    considerable    distance    down    the    hill,  receiving    sundry 


119 


CHARLES  A.  PRIEST  LUMBER  CO, 


DEALERS  IN 


[iimbcF,  ©ooF§,  ga^l?  .0  glincls 

All   Kinds   of    Builders'    Finish. 

Fancy  Sash,  Pine  and  Hard  Wood  Doors,  Wood  Mantels,     .     .     . 
.     .     .     .     Fancy  Brackets,  Shelves  and  Balustrade  Panel  Work. 

Fire  Screens,  Picture  and  Mirror  Frames  and  School  Furniture  made  from  original  designs  or  from  plans. 

Large  assortment  of  Fancy  Glass  in  new  designs  for  Artistic  Window  Decorating.      Stair  work  a 

specialty.     Best  French  Plate  Mirrors  and  Glass  Signs  furnished  at  short  notice. 


braises  by  the  way.  When  they  reached  the  bottom 
both  were  willing  to  relinquish  the  conquest ;  it  was  a 
drawn  game — the  bear  losing  her  cub  and  Gibson  his 
pantaloons. 

John  Gibson,  son  of  Isaac,  was  one  of  the  number 

who  enlisted  in  the  Continental  Army  from  this  town, 

and  was  one  of  the  ten  or  twelve  of  that  number  who 

were    engaged    in    the    battle    of  Bunker    Hill.       It    is 

supposed  that  he  was  killed  there  for  he  has  never  been 

seen  or    heard  of  since  that  day.       He    was    last   seen 

on  the  entrenchment,  in  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  bravely 

opposing  the  enemy  with  the  breech  of  his  gun.     It  is  probable  that   he  was 

overpowered  and  killed,  though  his  body  was  not  recognized  among  the  slain. 

Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Gibson,  married  the  Rev.  Francis  Gardner,  for 

nearly  fifty-two  years  pastor  of  the  first  church  in  Leominster.     Nancy,  the 


-s-  Apothecary 

ALSO  I>EALKU   IN 

ARTISTS's  MATERIALS. 


401    MAIN  STREET, 
FITCHBURG. 


youngest  daughter  of  Rev.  Francis  Gardner,  married 
Samuel  Salisbury,  an  old  time  Boston  merchant,  and  two 
of  their  children,  Daniel  Waldo  and  Rebecca  Salisbury, 
reside  in  Leominster  on  the  site  of  the  old  parsonage, 
which,  together  with  the  farm  which  belonged  to  it,  came  I 
into  the  possession  of  the  Salisbury  family. 

Alderman  H.  F.  Rockwell  of  Fitchburg  is  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  Isaac  Gibson  and  was  born  in  the  Spofford 
garrison  house,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1875. 

David  Gibson,  another  son  of  Isaac  Gibson,  learned 
the  baker's  trade,  and  according  to  Torrey's  history 
"turned  his  eyes  westward  of  the  old  city  and  in  a  daring 
moment,  reckless  of  a  rough  soil  and  its  rougher  produc- 
tions, such  as  pine  stubs,  hardback,  grape  vines,  etc.,  etc.,  built  a  bakery  on 
the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  dwelling  house  of  the  late  Ebenezer  Torrey, 


123 


F.  C.  CURRIER  &  SON, 


INSURANCE, 


'-^sJ-^^, 


SIS  §/I\ain  Sl^F(^efe,  ©per-a  ^euse  Bleek,  Fifeel2buF§. 


FIRST  CLASS  STOCK  AND  MUTUTAL  COMPANIES. 
STEAM   BOILER,   PLATE  GLASS,   LIFE  AND  ACCIDENT  INSURANCE. 


Marine  Insurance  furnished  to  any  part  of  the  world  at  same  rates  as  charged  in  Boston 

or  New  York. 


Esq.,  and  built    his    dwelling   directly   op- 
posite, just  above  the  City  Hall. 

About  the  time  of  the  Shay  rebellion 
the  Gibsons  were  threatened  with  a  noctur- 
nal visit  from  the  military.  They,  "  Reuben 
and  Jake,"  (as  I  have  been  told)  stationed 
themselves  on  the  common  and  dared  the 
soldiers  to  lay  hands  on  them,  this  the 
latter  declined  to  do  and  a  lively  scene  was 
avoided. 

Capt.  Thomas  Cowdin,  for  many  years  the  popular  landlord  of  Cowdin's 
Tavern  and  "autocrat  of  Fitchburg,"  was  born  in  Stow  in  1720.  It  is  not 
known  what  induced  him  to  make  Fitchburg  his  permanent  home,  but 
in  1764  he  moved  into  town  and  became  proprietor  of  Hunt's  Tavern, 
where  S.  S.  Holton  now  lives.     As  might  be  expected  from  one  of  such  a 


'25 


N.    COWDIN.  C.    C.    WALKER. 

COW  DIN  dr  WALKER, 


MANUFACTURERS   OF    AND    DEALERS    IN 


SOAP   AND   TALLOW, 


ROUGH     AND     RENDERED. 

GASH  PAID  FOR  TALLOW. 

290  WATER  STREET,  FITOHBURG,  MASS. 


positive  character  his  views  were  most  de- 
cided and  were  forcibly  avowed.  These 
characteristics  in  the  person  of  a  daring? 
fearless  soldier,  who  could  tell  his  guests 
long  and  interesting  stones  of  his  advent- 
ures in  the  army,  made  him  at  once  a  man 
of  prominence  and  a  most  popular  host. 
For  ten  years  he  kept  a  public  house  at  the 
Hunt  tavern  stand,  then  built  a  new  house 
where  the  American  House  now  stands, 
continuing  there  w^hile  he  lived,  and  after  his  death  his  wife  succeeding  him 
in  the  business. 

Cowdin  Tavern  not  only  served  the  purpose  of  an  inn,  furnishing  re- 
freshment to  man  and  beast,  but  was  at  times  a  court  of  justice,  for  here 
Thomas    Cowdin,    Esquire,  (he    having    procured    a    "commission    in    the 


127 


L.  H.  PRATT  &  CO. 


We  have  a  fine  assortment  of 

golid  and  J^laied  gilrcru^are, 

Ladies'  and  Gents'  Gold  Watches. 

All  styles  of  Stone  aud  Band  Rings,  Chains,  Clocks, 
Optical  Goods,  etc. 

i6o  MAIN  STREET,  FITCHBURG. 

AMBROSE  P.  CHASE, 

AGENT  FOR  THE  CELEBRATED 

Needles,  Oil  and  Repairing.     Also, 

Employment    Bureau.. 
10  Cottage  Square,  Fitchburg. 


P.  W.  COLEMAN, 
U  PH  OLSTER  ER 

AND 

FURNITURE  REPAIRER. 


Hair  Mattresses  made  to  order.      Old  Mattresses 

made  over.      Furniture  of  all  kinds  made  to 

order.    Repairinj?  a  specialty. 


325  Main  Street, 


Fitchburg. 


G.  A.  SAWYER, 

^acl^er  of  iXiz  J^anjo, 

161  Main  Street,  Fitchburg. 


A  pupil  of  Mr.  George  C.  Dobson.      Private 
Lessons  afternoon  and  evening. 


peace")  administered  justice  in  alopathic  doses.  It  is  related  in  Torrey's 
History  that  a  Mr.  Abel  Baldwin,  who  lived  on  the  Gov.  Hale  farm,  was 
summoned  before  Thomas  Cowdin,  Esquire,  to  answer  to  the  charge,  of  not 
"duly  and  constantly  attending  meeting  on  the  Sabbath."  He  was  accord- 
ingly fined.  He  paid  his  fine  with  evident  reluctance  and  proceeded  to 
curse  the  place,  (the  old  city) 
calling  it  Sodom,  and,  as  Mr. 
Torrey  says  in  1835,  "It  is  called 
Sodom  unto  this  day." 

Numerous  incidents  in  the 
earlier  life  of  Captain  Cowdin, 
illustrative  of  his  prominent  traits, 
have  been  preserved,  but  only  a 
few  can  be  given. 

While    stationed    at    Charles- 


129 


Type  Writer  and  Stamp  Ribbons,  Society  Pins,  Lapel  Buttons  and 

all  kinds  and  colors.  Emblem  Address  Cards. 

Repairing  promptly  done.  Established  1884.  All  work  warranted. 


4^Pitc1}biird  j^jbber  Stamp  \^rk^,4 

J.     W.     OGOKN,     Proprietor. 

MANUFACTURER    OK    AND    DEALER    IN 

Self-Inking   Ribbon   and    Hand  Stamps, 


ALL  KINDS  METAL  AND  RUBBER 


Dating,  Banking  and  Business  Sta^nps. 

We  make  Ribbon  Badges  for  all  occasions,  Picnics,  Balls,  Parades,  etc. 
190  1-2   MAIN   STREET.       (Over  Moore's  Store.)      PITOHBURG,   MASS. 


Labels,  Calendars  and  Advertising  Novelties.  Metal  Letters  for  Pattern  Makers. 

-Seal  Presses,  Steel  Dies.  Stencils,  Burning  Brands,  etc. 


town,  N.  H.,  he  was  selected  to  convey 
despatches  to  Fort  Dummer.  He  buckled 
them  in  his  knapsack  and  accompanied  by 
two  other  soldiers  commenced  his  perilous 
journey.  Arriving  at  the  brow  of  an  abrupt 
precipice,  they  looked  down  upon  a  group 
of  Indians  who  sounded  the  war-whoop  in 
pursuit.  The  three  wisely  fled  in  different 
directions,  one  making  a  bee-line  for  camp. 
The  second,  finding  he  could  not  escape  by 

running,    crawled    into    some    tall     grass    and    was    passed    by    unnoticed. 

Cowdin  took  his  course  for  Ashuelot,  now  Keene,  where  he  arrived  safely, 

and  under  an  escort  of  soldiers  delivered  his  despatches. 

Cowdin,  in  the  capacity  of  sergeant,  was  at  the  siege  of  Louisburg  in 

1745.       He    enlisted    as    ensign  and  served  seven    years,  during    the    war 

131 


H.  J.   LACEY, 

DEALER    IN 

-:Groceries,  Dry  Goods:- 

Plour,     (i^rain,     onoc(?ery, 
Glass  Ware  and  Farming  Implements. 

— ALSO 

COMMISSION   MERCHANT. 

Goods  8okl  at  Wholesale  and  retail. 
1  RIVER  ST.  WEST  FITCHBURG. 


FITGHBURG  TEA  GO. 


DEALERS    IN 


JTine  i  I[ea8,  %  @ffee8, 

SPICES,  CROCKERY,  LAMPS,  ETC. 

F.  M.  THOMPSON,  Proprietor. 

191  Westminster  St.  West  Fitchburg. 


* 

* 

* 
* 
* 

* 

I 

I* 

\ 

* 

* 

*  ! 

* 

i  *  I 
* 


JOHN  Nl^NAMARA, 

^jlitie©  family  i 

Goods  delivered  to  any  part  of  the  city. 

WESTMINSTER  HILL  ROAD, 
Cor.  Phillips  St.  West  Fitehburg. 

HESSION    BROS. 
HACK,  LIVERY,  BOARDING  AND  SALE 

i  STABLE.  I 


Hacks  and  Carriages  for  Parties,  Weddings 
and  Funerals. 


31   River  Street, 


West  Fitehburg. 


J 


between  England  and  France  rising  to  the  office  of  captain.  A  portion  of 
this  time  he  was  employed  in  returning  convalescent  soldiers  to  the  army 
and  in  arresting  deserters.     At  one  time  he  followed  a  deserter  into  the  state 

of  New  York  and  at  length  found  him, 
one  Sabbath  morning,  attending  divine 
service  in  a  Dutch  meeting-house. 
Without  hesitating  he  entered,  seized 
the  criminal,  and  after  a  desperate 
struggle  overpowered  and  secured  his 
prisoner.  He  took  him  to  Boston  and 
from  thence  to  Crown  Point.  Day 
after  day,  through  the  lonely  forest, 
he  journeyed  with  his  prisoner,  hing  down  each  night  by  the  side  of  the 
doomed  man.  At  Crown  Point  the  prisoner  was  recognized  as  a  man  who 
had  enlisted  and  deserted  thirteen  times  ;  he  was  taken  to  Montreal  and  shot. 


^33 


JOHN  BECKER  MFG.  CO. 


MANUKACTURERS    OF 


SPECIAL    TOOLS  AND   MACHINERY. 


^^eJOHNlECKER^ 

BOSTON  rilf^iSl     MASS 


■  SI2t    ■  PRICE 

2" -v."-  ».80 

a    -54     -  .90 

2  •  I    -  no 

2)4-*    -  100 

2>i-  I     -  I  15 

214-  1     -  1.25 

2i4-  1)4-  P. 35 

2«-  IM  -  1.40 

3  -  J  -  1.30 
3  -  l>4-  I.4S 
3  -  114  -  r.55 
3    -2     -  1.75 

I.SO 

3»-  lis  -  1.60 

314-  l!4  -  1.70 

314-  l/i  -  1.65 

!«  -  1.80 


4     -rw-  1,30 

4  -2  -  iOC 
4142  -  2.20 
4!4-2!4-  2.30 
4'^-21,-  2.40 
i'h-i'/i-  2.50 
4*2!.-  2.70 
4y.-2/,  -  2.50 
4>4-2'/4-  2.90 

5  -214-  £.80 
5  -3  -  3.25 
514-2>i-  3.10 
S14-3  -  3.35 
5>,-2!4-  3.30 
5>^-3     -  3  50 

3.75 


Dies  and  Punches,  Soap  Moulds,  Book  Stamps  and  Dies.       Electrical 
Work,  Model  Making  and  Typewriting  Machines. 

Becker's  Elliptograph 

Routing  and  Milling  Machine, 

PATTERN  NAME  PLATES. 

ALSO  

BRASS    FOUNDERS. 


Finished  Bronzed  Name  Plates  a  specialty. 


152  PEARL  STREET, 


BOSTON. 


Joseph  Fox,  Esquire,  came  to  Fitchburg  from  Littleton  about  the  year 
1772,  and  commenced  making  shoes  in  the  old  city.  He  soon  began  mak- 
ing trips  to  Boston  on  horseback,  bringing  home  with  him  goods  of  various 
kinds  and  retailing  them  from  his  shoemaker's  bench.  He  afterwards 
opened  a  store  on  land  now    occupied  by  the    Dickinson  block,  corner  of 

Main  and  Laurel  streets.  This  was  known 
as  the  "red  store."  He  acquired  a  large 
property  and  was  a  man  of  great  influence 
in  town. 

Capt.  Oliver  Fox,  second  son  of  Joseph, 
inherited  his  father's  restless,  enterprising 
spirit.  He  was  a  thorough  Yankee,  never 
missing  an  opportunity  for  making  money. 
He  lived  on  what  is  now  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Prichard  streets,  (the  latter  street 


'35 


H.  T.  &  G.J.  ALLEN, 

Builders  and  Real  Estate  Dealers. 


^^^  Houses  and  Btiilding  Lots  ^^ 

^^  Bought,  Sold  and  Exchanged.  "^^ 


Houses  sold   on  the   Instalment    Plan.     ,'^200  to  $500  Cash  buys  a 

Cottage.     $500  to  $1500  Cash  buys  a  Two-Tenement  House. 

The    balance    easy    terms    to    suit.       Almost  anything 

taken  with  some  cash  as   part  of  first  payment. 

Cois^K  A.is[iD  3KK  Our  Houses. 

113  MYRTLE  STREET,  FITCHBURG. 


was  not  then  laid  out).  The  large  tract  of 
land  to  the  north  and  west  constituted  his 
farm,  the  flat  portion  between  Main  and 
Prichard  streets  being  his  mowing.  In  1826 
Capt.  Fox  built  the  stone  mill  now  owned 
by  Joseph  Gushing.  No  derrick  was  used 
in  the  work  but  oxen  were  driven  with  their 
loads  of  blocks  of  stone  up  an  inclined 
plane  of  timbers  extending  from  the  ad- 
jacent side-hill  and  raised  to  a  level  with 
the  top  masonry  as  the  work  progressed.  An  old  resident  informs  us  that  it 
was  a  novel  sight  when  the  upper  story  had  been  reached  to  see  the  oxen 
looking  over  the  battlements.  This  was  quite  an  enterprise  for  those  times. 
Capt.  Fox  being  in  failing  health  went  to  Louisiana  and  died  at  Alexandria 
in  that  state  of  consumption  m  1832. 


137 


PHCKNIX  CLOTHING  HOUSE, 


FIRST-CLASS  READY-MADE 


CLOTHING  -■  FURNISHINGS. 

MEN'S,  YOUTHS'  AND  BOYS'. 

U.     H.     CLKVELANO,     Proprietor. 
354  MAIN  STREET,  FITOHBURQ,  MASS. 


C.    Tl.   CONK, 


[, 


G 


494  }mW  ^TI^EET, 


FI3FCpBa^(i  W^^' 


OLD  MEETING-HOUSES,   CEMETERIES.  ETC. 


CCORDING  to  the  records  the  first  town  meeting  was 
held  at  the  Hunt  tavern  March  5th.  1764.  The  first 
reHgious  services  were  conducted  the  following  winter 
i^rrTi  at  the  same  place  by  Rev.  Peter  Whitney  the  historian. 
The  first  meeting-house  was  built  by  the  town,  on  land 
given  by  Thomas  Cowdin  for  that  purpose,  at  the  cor- 
s^'^1  ner  of  Crescent  and  Blossom  streets.  A  brick  school 
jd  house  was  afterward  built  on  the  spot,  a  portion  of 
which  still  remains.  This  church  was  built  piece  by  piece  ;  the  town  fur- 
nished the  "stuff"  and  employed  people  to  work  on  it,  finishing  part  at  a 
time.  It  was  ready  for  occupancy  in  two  years,  but  it  was  seven  years 
before  it  was  actuallv  completed.      It  was  built  in  the  following  order:     The 


139 


A  Tea  usually  sold  in  grocery  and  tea  stores  at  60 

or  70  cents  a  pound  we  will  sell  you  at  the 

low  price  of  43  cents  a  pound.       Don't 

fail  to  give  it  a  trial. 

Geffees,  §piees,  Gr-eek^Fy, 

At  lowest  prices. 

A.  L  WILLIAMS  X  GO. 

Fitchburg  and  Leominster. 


FITGHBURG  RUBBER  CO. 


DEALERS    IN 


Robber  Merchandise, 


HEAD()IIARTEK.S    KUK 


Ladies'  Waterproofs, 

Rubber  Coats, 

lyubber   Hose,  Doots  and   ^\)oes. 

A.  A.  HASKELL,  Manager. 


193  Main  St. 


Fitchburg. 


.^^^^i,,,,.,.,^,^^^,^^^^  frame  was  "boarded",  the  lower  floor  laid,  the  outside 
^  "finished",  a  place  was  made  "tor  the  minister  to  preach 
in",  the  pew-ground  "dignified",  and  the  house  "seated"; 
the  galleries  and  stairs  made,  the  house  "glassed",  and 
finally  "coloured".  In  dignifying  the  pews,  the  "highest 
payer  on  real  estate"  had  the  first  choice. 

One  circumstance  relative  to  the  singing  in  the  meet- 
ing-house at  this  period  is  related  by  Mr.  Torrey  and 
is  worthy  of  reproduction  in  this  book.  "It  was  the  practice  pre- 
vious to  this  time  in  our  churches  to  have  the  minister  select  and  read 
the  first  hymn,  as  now,  then  the  oldest  deacon  would  read  a  line,  which  was 
sung  by  all  who  could  sing  sitting  promiscuously  in  every  part  of  the 
meeting-house,  then  another  line  was  read  and  sung  in  like  manner,  and  so 
on.  In  1767  some  bold  innovator  in  psalmody  made  an  eftbrt  to  introduce 
something  similar  to  our  present  mode  of  singing,  together  with  some  new 


141 


]yi; ARTIN    WEBBER,  "''""£,::1/""" 


EASTERN,    WESTERN  AND  NORTHERN 


LUMBER 


Doo7's,  Sash,  Blinds,  Mouldings,     .      .     .. 

Building  Materials,  Shingles,  Lath,  etc, 

31  NEWTON  PLACE,  FITCH  BURG. 


tunes.  These  latter  were  quite  incomprehen- 
sible to  some  veterans,  whose  sweet  voices 
of  fifty  years  standing  were  hushed  in  con- 
sequence, and  the  point  was  argued  with 
exceeding  warmth  on  both  sides.  Before 
coming  to  blows,  however,  a  compromise  was  effected,  whereby  two-fifths 
of  the  singing  was  after  the  old  style,  to  satisfy  the  aged  people,  while  the 
taste  of  those  who  were  pleased  with  the  change  was  gratified  by  carrying 
three-fifths  of  their  point."  In  September,  1786,  it  was  voted  to  build 
a  new  meeting-house  in  the  ''center  of  the  town,  or  the  nearest 
convenientest  place  to  the  center."  Unfortunately  for  Fitchburg,  as  else- 
where in  New  England,  all  matters  of  church  and  state  were  submitted  to 
the  combined  wisdom  of  the  inhabitants  "in  town  meeting  assembled"  and 
the  result  of  the  struggle  to  find  that  unknown  spot,  the  "nearest  con- 
venientest place",  lasted  ten  years.      Ninety-nine  town  meetings  were  held 


143 


HENRY  ALLISON 


HAS   FOR   SALE 


Debenture  Bonds. 

I4^ater  Bonds, 

First  Mortgages, 

Bank  Stocks, 

AND  OTHHR  FIRST-CLASS  SECIIRITIKS. 

Any  one  having  $100  or  more  to  invest  is  invited  to  call  or  send   for 
pamphlet  giving  full  particulars. 

2^  AND  234  MAIN  ST.,  FITCHBURC! 


in  which  the  -subject  was  wrestled  with,  and 

so  fiercely  at  times   was  the  contest  waged 

that    spectators    from    other  towns  honored 

the  gatherings  with  their  presence.       The 

inhabitants    living    on    Dean    Hill    did    no 

wait,  but  at  once  proceeded  to  build  a  church  of  their  own.      It  was  a  plain, 

unpainted  structure,  was  little  used,  and  was  finally  left  to  decay,  and  for 

its  shabby  appearance  received   the  appellation  of  the  "Lord's  barn".     For 

some  time  previous  to  being  taken  down  in  1826  it  was  used  indiscriminately 

by  different  denominations  and  sects. 

Mr.  J.  F.  D.  Garfield  recalls  a  statement  made  to  him  regarding  the 
substantial  character  of  the  frame  of  that  building  :  The  main  timbers  were 
of  oak,  twelve  inches  square,  and  when  it  was  taken  down  Capt.  Newton, 
a  cotton  manufacturer  in  Newton  lane,  procured  two  of  the  timbers  to  use  in 
the  construction  of  a  lathe  for  turning  shafting  and  other  machinery  for  his 


145 


H.   M.   FRANCIS, 


* 


*ARCHITECT^ 


POST  OFFICE  BUILDING,  FITCHBURG,  MASS. 


WILLIAM   K.    BAILEY. 

CIVIL-.KNGINKKR 

^rigirjeers'  ar|d  ^rainglitsixieri's  tp-Q-g^lies 
POST  OFFICE  BUILDING,  FITCHBURG,  MASS. 


mill,  and  for  several  years  it  would  turn   a  longer  piece  of  shafting  than 
any  other  lathe  in  this  section  of  the  county. 

The  task  of  the  committees  who  served  the  town  during  these  ten  weary 
years  was  evidently  a  thankless  one.  Every  means  was  used  to  center  the 
town  and  ascertain  that  hitherto  undiscovered  point,  the  "nearest  con- 
venientest  place",  time  and  again  commit- 
tees interested  and  disinterested  surveyed, 
planned  and  reported  to  the  town,  and  the 
recommendations  all  were  treated  precisely 
alike, — as  good  for  nothing.  A  sensible 
location  was  at  last  decided  upon  near  where  the  present  First  Parish 
church  stands,  and  in  1795-6  it  was  built.  Mr.  Torrey  in  1836  says,  "I 
have  been  informed  that  it  was  designed  to  have  the  house  face  directly 
down  street  and  that  the  underpinning  was  set,  but  that  the  opposing  faction 
mustered  sufficient  strength  to  have  it  faced  directly  to  the  south. "     It  is 


H7 


)VEDDINp.  SOCIETY. 

W.    F.    LAWRENCE, 


pine  ]^eFcantile  grinter, 

176  MAIN  ST.,   FITCH  BURG. 

^ALL.  •  ;.ABEL. 


A.   L.  PRATT. 


F.  P.  ROCKWOOD. 


Pratt  &   Rockwood, 

GROCERY  STORE, 


11  LAUREL  ST., 

Third  Door  from  Main, 

KITCHBURG. 


an  interesting  tact  that  the  town  at  one  of 
its  meetings  voted  to  build  near  the  summit 
of  Pound  Hill,  the  geographical  center  of 
the  town,  but  promptly  rescinded  the  vote  at 
its  next  meeting.  The  old  pound  remains 
to  remind  us  of  "what  might  have  been". 

The  meeting-house  was  modelled  after  that  on  the  hill  in  Ashburnham. 
There  were  porches  at  each  end  with  stairs  leading  to  the  galleries,  and  the 
pulpit,  singers'  seats  and  pews  were  after  the  usual  pattern  of  that  time. 
The  west  gallery  was  occupied  by  the  women  and  girls,  and  the  east  by 
men  and  boys,  the  gallery  sittings  being  free.  The  church  pews  were 
square  and  were  furnished  with  narrow  seats  without  cushions.  The  seats 
were  hung  on  hinges,  and  so  arranged  as  to  be  easily  raised  when  the  con- 
gregation stood  during  prayer  time,  and  as  it  was  the  custom  to  raise  these 
whenever    the    congregation    stood    up,  and    also  rulable   to  let    them    fall 


149 


O.  O.  STONE,  Eaves  Troughs  and  Extension  Ladders. 


QC' 


at 


llie  <>ar«lin'r  Ji^stabiishuient. 


Hiiving  leased  land  of  F.  D.  Shattuck  and  luit  up  a  new  shop  and  barn,  we  are  now  better  prepared  to 
furnisli  and  ])iit  up  all  kinds  of  Eaves  Troughs  and  Conductors.  First  (lualitv  Pine  and  Cypress  Troughs  and 
Gutters.  Wood,  Tin  and  Corrugated  Iron  Conductors.  Our  Extension  Ladi'lers  a  si)e<ialty.  All  work  war- 
rantefl  satisfactory  or  no  pay.      Orders  by  letter  promptly  attended  to. 

A.  TV.  FULLER,  Agent,  89  DAY  STREET,  FITCHBURG. 


without  regard  to  the  noise  at  the  close,  the      (^' 
startling  effect  on  weak  nerves  can  better 
be  imagined  than  described. 

The  singing  was  led  lor  years  by  Cyrus 
Thurston.  He  taught  singing  school  win- 
ters, and  as  he  picked  the  best  singers  for  his  choir  it  was  considered  a 
great  compliment  for  a  person  to  be  included  in  that  number.  William  J. 
Merriam,  Mrs.  Dr.  Peter  Snow,  Mrs.  Solomon  Pratt  and  Ebenezer  Torrey 
were  some  of  the  more  prominent  singers.  The  organ  was  played  by 
Aaron  Litch,  and  the  pitch-pipe,  bass-viol,  violins  and  bassoon  were  also 
used. 

Up  to  the  time  of  incorporation  there  had  been  no  burying  ground 
nearer  than  Lunenburg,  seven  miles  distant.  The  first  graveyard  in  Fitch- 
burg  was  back  of  the  meeting-house,  between  Blossom  and  Mount  Vernon 
streets,  but    on   account    of  the    ledge  of  rock  it  was  found  an  unsuitable 


•SI 


Timotln'  F.  Hartnett. 


rJpJriJpiJt=Jr=Ji=Jf=JpiJr=JnJr=Ji=JnJrdhJnJr=JnJr:JrJnJnJrJ 

UNDERTAKER, 


pJnJrJf=JrJi=lfdf=JfdpJnJf=JnJrJniJrJpJf=Jf=JpJ 


155  WATER  STREET. 


place  and  the  few  bodies  there  were  finally 
exhumed  and  placed  in  the  cemetery  on 
South  street,  the  land  for  which  was  given 
by  Deacon  Amos  Kimball  "in  consideration 
of  his  love  and  respect  for  the  people  of 
Fitchburg."  For  a  quarter  of  a  century  this  was  the  only  cemetery  in  town, 
and  in  it  are  the  tombstones  of  many  of  the  early  citizens  of  prominence  ; 
that  of  Rev.  John  Pay  son,  the  first  settled  minister,  being  the  most  notice- 
able on  account  of  its  size  and  position,  resting  horizontally  on  stone  supports. 
About  the  year  1800  a  cemetery  was  located  near  the  Dean  Hill  school 
house,  which  is  now  overgrown  with  trees.  The  easterly  part  of  Mount 
Laurel  cemetery  was  purchased  soon  after  and  additions  have  since  been 
made  so  it  now  covers  the  entire  hill  overlooking  the  city.  Forest  Hill 
cemetery  was  laid  out  in  1856-7.  St.  Bernard  cemetery  is  owned  bv  St. 
Bernard  Church,  and  has  been  in  use  for  several  years. 


153 


WflCHUSETT  TEA  GO. 


WHOLESALE  AND  RETAIL 


X^3  '^  ©ealeF^, 


193  MAIN  STREET,  FITCHBURG. 


M.  A.  SHEA  &  CO. 


DEALERS     IN 


I^AOIES'   AND   QENXS' 


NOTIONS,  ETC. 

Also,  Agent  for  the  fltchl)urg  Sentinel  and  the  City 
Steam  Laundry. 

Cor.  Westminster  and  Depot  Sts..  West  Fitchburg. 


WEST   FITCHBURG 


-AND- 


CITY   EXPRESS. 


TWO  TRIPS  DAILY. 

Offices  at  Fitchburg  Depot  with   N.  Y.  &  B.  D. 

Express  Co.  and  at  drug  store  of  F.  S.  Stone, 

West  Fitchburg. 

H.  B.  GILCHREST,  Proprietor. 


SHEA  &  BLOOD, 


DEALERS    IN 


Provisions,  Beef,  Pork 


') 


Mutton,  Lamb,  Poultry,  Lard,  Ham,  Sausage, 

Butter,  Eggs,  Fruits,  Vegetables, 

Canned  Goods,  etc. 

WEST    FITCHBURG,    MASS. 


FITCHBURG  OF  THE  PAST. 


T  the  time  of  its  incorporation  in  1764,  the  people  of 
Fitchburg  subsisted  chiefly  by  farming,  using  the 
crudest  implements  of  husbandry.  The  population 
at  that  time  was  about  250.  The  roads  were  few  in 
number  and  poorly  constructed,  many  of  them  merely 
bridle  paths,  and  most  of  the  travel  was  on  horse- 
back. The  Nashua  river  was  considered  a  curse  to 
the  place,  and  the  valley  through  which  it  run  was 
shunned  by  the  early  settlers.  The  art  of  construct- 
ing durable  bridges  was  not  understood  in  those  days,  and  it  was  generally 
thought  that  Fitchburg  could  never  be  a  flourishing  place  on  account  of  the 
destructive    freshets  and    consequent  expense  of  maintaining  and  keeping 

>55 


JL.  J.  iw^ccomviJLCi^, 


^\ 


Of  all  kinds  conslaiilly  on  hand  for  sale  or  exchange. 

Ligbt  and  H^^oV  W^as^ons 

Built  to  order. 

Horse  Shoeing,  Jobbing  and  Macliine  Forging. 

10  NORTH  STREET,  FITCH  BURG. 


GEORGE  E.  PARKER, 

Beef,  Pork,  Lamb,  Mntton,  Poultry,  Lard,  Butter,   Eggs,  Cheese 
and  Vegetables  in  their  season. 

Choice  Canned  Goods  a  Specialty. 

197  AND  199  WATER  STREET,  FITOHBURG,  MASS. 


in  repair  the  roads  and  bridges.  The  accompa- 
nying engraving  shows  the  location  of  the  four 
principal  roads  leading  through  the  town  at  that 
time. 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolution  there  were  : 
the  meeting  house,  back  of  Main  street,  a  small, 
shabby,  yellow  structure  ;  the  red  store  and 
dwelling  of  Joseph  Fox,  between  Main  street 
and  what  is  now  the  Joseph  Gushing  mill,  and 
near  by  the  mill  and  residence  of  Dea.  Ephraim 
Kimball.  Up  the  road,  near  the  location  of  the 
Fitchburg  Savings  Bank  Block,  was  a  baker's 
shop  and  dwelling,  and  further  west  two  or  three 
houses  and  a  blacksmith  shop ;  pine  stumps, 
hardback,  and  grape  vines  were  plentiful  by  the 


'57 


Safety  Fund  National  Bank, 

FITCHBURG,     IVTASS. 


ORGANIZED  APRIL  17,   1874.     CAPITAL  $200,000. 


HENRY  ALLISON,  President.                  W.  S.  JENKS,  Cashier.  JOEL  G.  TYLER,  Teller. 

DIRECTORS: 

Henry  Allison,                              Charles  F.  Putnam,  Reuben  R.  Conn, 

Wilder  P.  Clark,                           Frank  Leighton,  Lyman  Patch, 

J.  F.  D.  Garfield,                              M.  B.  Damon,  E.  M.  Dickinson, 

George  Hall,                                       F.  F.  Woodward,  George   R.   Wallace. 


side  of  what  is  now  Main  street,  then  a  crooked,   rough  road.      Such  was 
the  village  of  Fitchburg  in  1786. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  the  first  house  on  the  main  road 
west  of  the  Lunenburg  line  was  situated  on  what  is  known  as  the  Dr. 
Palmer  place,  on  Summer  street.  The  next  house  occupied  what  is  now 
the  American  House  corner  and  there  were  no  houses,  now  standing, 
between  that  and  the  Safety  Fund  Bank   (Crocker  Block).       An  ancient 

soap  shop  occupied  the  present  site  of 
Crocker  Block,  and  was  known  as  "Old 
Potash.""  West  of  that  there  were  no  other 
buildings  until  near  where  the  Rollstone 
House  now  stands.  The  street  was  un- 
paved  and  there  were  no  sidewalks  and 
very  little  fence  on  either  side  of  the  street. 
As  late  as  1830  there  were   a    number 


159 


m. 


m 


JENNISON,  THE  PLUMBER, 

SOLE     AOENT 

MAGEE   FURNACE  CO. 

243  AND  246  MAIN  STREET. 


m 


T.  J.  SULLIVAN, 

Manager  Sheet  Iron  Department. 


CHARLES  SMITH, 

Manager    Plumbing    Department. 


^JJ.iiJ^-1 ! :  i ; :  .^.liJLiillN.  1114,..^^^,. 


of  houses  on  West  and  Mechanic  streets,  but  not  a  single  house  on  the 
north  side  of  Main  street,  between  a  point  just  below  the  present  residence 
of  Ebenezer  Torrey  and  the  house  owned  by  Oliver  Fox,  Esquire,  near  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Prichard  streets  (this  latter  not  then  being  laid  out). 
There  were  at  that  time  in  Fitchburg  325  dwelling  houses,  two  meeting- 
houses, or  3  academy,  twelve  school  houses,  one  printing  office,  two  woolen 

mills,  four  cotton  mills,  one 
scythe  manufactory,  two 
paper  mills,  four  grist  mills, 
ten  saw  mills,  three  taverns, 
two  hat  manufactories,  one 
bellows  manufactor3s  two 
tanneries,  two  window  blind 
manufactories,  and  one  chair 
manufactory. 


161 


C.    S.    KKITH, 

gpFing  Water  Bottliiio  W^Fks 


REAR     302     MAIN     STREET. 


SARATOGA  MINERAL  SPRING    HATERS, 

STRAWBERRY  AND  ORANGE  PHOSPHATE, 

GINGER  ALE  AND  SARSAPARILLA, 

Bottled  especially  for  family  use.     Also, 

Plain     Carbooate     Water  (or  Soda     Water) 

In  Siphons.     Recommended  by  physicians. 


The  following  extract  from  the  Worces- 
tei'  County  Coiu-icr  of  July  15,  1834, 
printed  in  Fitchburg,  is  interesting  in  this 
connection :  "The  sign  which  swings  in 
front  of  the  Fitchburg  Hotel,  indicating 
that  the  weary  traveller  may  find  accommo- 
dations and  refreshment  within,  has  lately 
received  a  new  coat  of  paint,  and  now  gives 

a  very  fine  front  view  of  'Pratt's  Hotel.'     The  foreground  is  occupied  by  a 
stage  coach  in  full  career,  drawn  by  four  blue  horses."' 

About  1830  some  of  the  citizens  formed  an  associjition  called  the  High 
School  Association  of  Fitchburg,  which  was  an  important  supplement  to 
the  educational  powers  of  the  town.  A  building  called  the  Academy  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,200  on  land  given  for  the  purpose  by  Captain 
Zachariah   Sheldon  and  situated  just  in  front  of  the  present  High  School 


163 


ADJUSTABLE  SAW  TABLE  COMPANY. 


F.  E.  FAR  WELL,  Proprietor. 


OFFICE  WILLOW  STREET, 


MANIFACTUREKS   OF 

Adjustable  Saw  Tables, 
Adjustable  Saw  Gauges, 

Adjustable  Moulder  Collars, 
Saw  Table  Adjusters, 

Quick-Action  Screw  Vises. 

Dealers  in  all  kinds  of  Wood- 
Working  Machinery. 

FITOHBURG,  MASS. 


_^ ^^_^    The    academy  building  was  rented    to   individuals  for 

"WStt^^  :^  school  purposes  until  1849,  '^'h^ri  the  town  voted  to 
establish  a  public  High  School,  and  purchased  the 
academy  of  the  High  School  Association. 

Afterwards  the  old  academy  building  was  used  for 
various  purposes.  It  was  here  that  Mr.  E.  Butterick 
started  in  the  business  of  making  shirt  patterns,  was 
successful,  and  removed  to  New  York,  establishing  the 
business  of  E.  Butterick  &  Co.,  one  of  the  largest 
fashion  establishments  in  the  world. 
In  1869  the  academy  was  moved  and  the  present  high  school  building 
was  built.     The  academy  is  now  a  part  of  the  Rollstone  House. 

At  the  old  academy  many  of  our  prominent  citizens  obtained  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  higher  branches  of  study  and  laid  the  foundation  for  a  successful 
business  career. 


165 


W.    M.    WILLIS, 


AUTHORIZED 


PUBLIC     WEIGHKR 


OF- 


•^Qal,  gecf,  grain,  Jfla^l^iiicrV  and  Boiler.s,4 


By  the  Buffalo  United  States  Standard  Scales,  capacity  furty-one  thousand  pounds 


W  '         w%  ^  ^J^  ^ 

OFFICE   97    MAIN    STREET,    FITCHBURG,    MASS. 


The  accompanying  representation  of  the  old  method  of  public  weighing 
will  be  interesting  to  the  people  of  the  present  day  who  are  familiar  with  the 
wonderfully  accurate  mechanism  of  the  standard  scales  now  in  universal  use 
throughout  the  country.  The  first  public  scales  in  Fitchburg  were  located 
at  Factory  Square,  between  the  Fitchburg  Hotel  and  the  "Sentinel"  otfice. 

They  were  several  times  changed 
and  modernized  and  at  last  were 
replaced  by  the  scales  now  standing 
on  the  same  spot.  They  were  origi- 
nally, as  represented,  made  on  the 
principle  of  the  old  fashioned  bal- 
ances or  steelyards,  in  the  shed  at 
the  right  heavy  weights  for  weighing 
were  attached  to  the  iron  rod  until 
thev  balanced  the  load  on  the  scales. 


167 


NICHOLS  &  RICH 

(  ARKY    THE    I.AKCICST    SU)CK    OF 

PIANOS  #  ORGANS. 

Fairbanks  &  Cole,  Gatcoinb,  and  Steivart  Banjos,   Wash- 
burn and  Tilton  Guitars.     Best  Quality  Italian  and 
German  Strings.     Lowest  prices  for  everything. 


168    IVlAIN   ST. 


FiTCHBURG. 


IRVING  O.  CONVERSE, 

♦^JEWELER,-^ 

FINE   WATCH  REPAIRING  AND  ENGRAVING. 

168    MAIN    STREET,  FITCHBURG,    MASS. 


The  accompanying 
cut  shows  the  American 
House  as  it  appeared 
about  the  year  1850. 
The  dry  goods  store  of 
Marraton  Upton  was 
then  the  only  one  in 
the  "old  city,"  and  the 
only  grocery  store  was 
on  the  opposite  corner 
of  Blossom  and  Main  street,   and  was  kept  by  Mr.   Ide. 

The  original  map  from  which  the  engraving  on  next  page  was  taken 
was  surveyed  and  drawn  by  Levi  Downe  in  1830.  It  may.  be  seen  at  the 
relic  room  of  the  Wallace  Library  and  Art  Building. 


169 


C.    H.    VANDERWARKER,. 


187  Main  Street,  Fitchburg. 


I   alv/aya  l|ave    iPj    StoG'ty   a   (^ooci   ^830j?trr|er|t    of    J|f.oeal    (^-eiris. 
Rollstone  and  Pearl  Hill  Beryl.     Fox  Hill  Garnet.     Smoky  Quartz.     Tourmaline. 

!Pine    Watch    aod   Jewelry    Repairing   a    Specialty. 


171 


-!*george  a.  swift  *f 
J{ews.  3ook  and  Job  Printer 


-PUBLISHER  OF- 


-«THE  WEST  FITCHBURO  MONTHLY  NEWS,- 
176     AAIN     JTREET, 


^^ynclcFtakcF  and  gmbalmer.-^ 

Goffir]8,  Q^asl^ets,  plates.  .1^01)68,  Tj'riirjxriiirigs,  etc 

Of  all  descriptions  constantly  on  hand.       Particular  attention  given  to  preparing  and  preserving  bodies 

for  burial. 

254  Water  Street,  (Residence  ii  Railroad  Street,)  Fitchburg,  Mass. 


REVOLUTIONARY   PERIOD. 


HE  eventful  19th  of  April  found  Fitchburg 
prepared  for  action.  The  alarm  gun  was 
fired  in  front  of  Deacon  Kimball's  store  (near 
the  Gushing  mill)  and  here  the  minute-men 
assembled,  and  being  joined  by  several  volun- 
teers about  fifty  men  proceeded  at  once  under 
command  of  Captain  Ebenezer  Bridge,  and  a  large  baggage  wagon  well 
filled  with  provisions  was  immediately  sent  after  them,  under  the  care  of 
Thomas  Cowdin,  Jr.  Finding  their  services  not  immediately  needed  most 
of  these  men  returned  and  the  provisions  remaining  were  sold,  and  the 
proceeds,  $48.50,  was  given  to  Rev.  John  Payson,  on  the  principle  no  doubt 
that  what  was  not  wanted  by  those  who  fought  should  go  to  one  who  prayed 


173 


'VST.    ^Zy^.    Xv^IvIB, 

DEAI.EK    IN 

Beef,  Pork,  Ham,  Poultry,  Veal,  Tripe, 

LARD    AND    SAUvSAOE. 

Fruits   nnd    N'egetables    of  all    kinds   in    their   season.      Terms   cash. 


495  and  497  Main  Street, 


Fitchburg. 


A  LP  HON  SO    KELLEY, 


DEALER    IN 


CROCKERY  AND  GLASSWARE. 

493  MAIN  STREET,  FITCHBURG,  MASS. 


earnestly  for  our  success.  As  near  as  can 
be  learned  about  thirty  were  constantly  in 
the  army  from  Fitchburg  during  the  war. 

The  only  Fitchburg  soldier  killed  dur- 
ing the  war  was  John  Gibson.  Two  others 
of  the  Gibson  family,  Jonathan  and  Nathaniel,  were  in  the  service.  They 
were  at  the  battle  of  Bennington,  and  one  of  their  descendants  carried  at 
the  Bennington  centennial  celebration,  a  hessian  drum  captured  at  the 
battle.     This  drum  is  now  owned  by  Francis  Boutwell  of  this  city. 

Mr.  Alonzo  P.  Goodrich  has  a  list  of  minute-men  copied  from  a  paper 
once  in  the  possession  of  his  grandfather,  Deacon  David  Goodrich. 

It  would  seem  that  soon  after  Capt.  Ebenezer  Bridge's  co.npany  left  for 
Lexington  another  followed  under  command  of  Ebenezer  Woods  as  captain, 
Kendall  Boutell,  ist  lieutenant,  Asa  Perry,  2d  lieutenant,  Joseph  Adams 
and  Reuben  Gibson,  sergeants. 


T.  F.   KENNEDY, 

Slate  ^  and  ^^  Gravel  ^^  Roofer, 


AGENT  FOR  THE 


Phoenix  Brand  of  Roojing  Materials. 


All    Ivinds    of    Slate    Roofing    done    at    short    notice. 
PartiQnlar  attention  paid   to  REPAIRING. 


257    IVLAIN  ST.,  =  =  =  FiTCHBURG. 


The  following  brief  sketches  will  be  of  interest  in  this  connection  :  Capt. 
Ebenezer  Bridge  was  born  in  Lexington,  married  Mehitable  Wood  of 
Lunenburg,  1663,  the  year  before  Fitchburg  was  incorporated.  He  served 
through  the  war  and  left  the  service  with  the  title  of  colonel.  He  died  in 
1823.  His  Fitchburg  residence  was  on  the  "old  Crown  Point  road"' between 
the  present  Fisher  and  Ashby  roads.  1  am  informed  that  he  left  Fitchburg 
about  the  close  of  the  war,  but  the 
grave  of  one  at  least  of  his  children 
is  in  the  old  cemetery,  bearing  date 
as  late  as  1781.  Beneath  the  record 
of  death,  (a  son  of  3  years,)  the 
stone  bears  these  lines  : 

"  Fresh  as  ye  morn  ye  summer  rose 

Hangs  withered  ere  its  noon  ; 
We  scarce  enjoy  ye  balmy  gift 

But  mourn  ye  pleasure  gone." 

Near  the  entrance  of  the  Mount 
Laurel  cemetery  lie  the  remains  of 
Gen.  James  Reed.      He  was  colonel 


177 


J.    ^AT.    FHKXvFS, 


fS^  iTV  fi~  j-JK         jtfni         ^fi^         ^^^         j-Ht.         /'6gi^         ;;^s         '^^|i  j33^         ^™^         ■^~         SS^ 

*^gakeF\^  and  fining  [^oom§4 


5    and    7     Waaler    Street,  F^itchburg. 


of  the  second  New  Hampshire  Regiment  at  Bunker  Hill,  his  position  at 
that  tight  being  at  the  rail  fence.  From  sickness  contracted  while  in  the 
service  he  became  totally  blind.  In  1798  he  came  to  reside  in  Fitchburg, 
purchasing  a  house  standing  next  above 
our  present  City  Hall.  Before  coming 
here  he  had  buried  his  wife,  (while  resid- 
ing at  Keene,  N.  H.)  Miss  Mary  Farrar. 
a  Fitchburg  school  teacher,  in  her  spare 
hours  used  to  go  in  to  read  to  the  general 
and  she  finally  became  his  second  wife. 
After  their  marriage  he  and  his  wife  used 
to  ride  on  horseback,  the  general's -horse 
being  guided  by  a  strap  leading  to  the 
other  horse's  bit.  Gen.  Reed  died  in  1807 
and  was  buried  with  militarv   honors.     In 


179 


CHARLKS    A.    SAWYEK. 


JOHN    C.    WATSON. 


ROLLSTONE    CREAMERY, 


WHOLESALK    AND    RETAIL    DEALERS    IN 


^W'eet  anil 


mi 


n 


m\ 


^f 


flole 


i 


m 


Skimmed  Milk,  Butter  Milk,  Gilt  Edge  Butter  (our  own  make),  and  Ice  Cream.     Our  specialties 

are  Milk  and  Cream  for  regular  customers  and  Ice  Cream  for  parties. 

Free  delivery  to  all  parts  of  the  city. 

12  NORTH  STREET,  FITCHBURG,  MASS. 

O.    HARRIQAN, 


DEALER    IN 


IIST-^CUSS^PIO^ 


v^    Iv.  k- 


VEGETABLES.   CANNED  GOODS  AND  FRUITS  in  their  Season. 

Native  Pork,  Hams  and  Pure  Leaf  Lard  a  specialty. 

217  WATER  STREET,  FITCHBURG,  MASS. 


the  funeral  procession  the  widow  rode  upon  her  horse,  while  the  general's 
horse  with  empty  saddle  walked  at  her  side,  guided  as  usual  by  his  mate. 
A  granddaughter  has  recently  presented  to  the  state  of  New  Hampshire  a 
portrait  of  the  general,  which  hangs  in  the  State  Capitol  at  Concord.  The 
faithful  engraving  given  above  was  made  from  a  copy  kindly  furnished  by 
Mr.  J.  F.  D.  Gartield. 

The  burdens  of  the  Revolutionary  war  pressed 
heavily,  but  in  addition  to  these  Fitchburg  was 
visited  with  a  small-pox  epidemic,  which  was  then 
considered  one  of  the  most  dreadful  of  maladies. 
Dr.  Thaddeus  McCarty,  the  first  physician  of 
Fitchburg,  in  connection  with  Dr.  Israel  Atherton 
of  Lancaster,  established  a  hospital  on  Buck  Hill, 
so  called,  and  labored  incessantly  to  alleviate  the 
suflerings  of  the  victims  and  allay  the  fears  of  those 


:  -   DIED  J'    ."\ 

MARCH«iaTHj777i 


Wi^^mmmf^^^^frw 


JAMES  H.  Mccarty, 


DEALER    IN 


Brevisiens,    Beef,    Serk,    Jllutlei^,  Eran^b, 

Poultry,  Tripe,  Hansage,  Ham,  Lard,  Pigs'  Feet  and  Liver. 

Also,  a  choice  line  of  Canned  Goods,  Butter,  Cheese  and  Eggs. 

All  kinds  of  F"ruits  and  Vegetables  in  their  season. 
Telephone  connection. 

166  Water,  corner  First  Street,  Fitchburg- 

YOU     SHOULD     QET     YOUR 

>^^locks,  \^1K-l}e8  and  Jeitvlrv'  [^epairecl4 

AT 

A.  W.  BIGELOW  &  CO.'S. 

156  Myrtle  Street,  Fitchburg. 

All  work  Warranted.    Prices  as  low  as  the  lowest.   Kew 

good.s  Bold  cheap  for  cash.    Old  goods  taken  in 

exchange  for  new. 


SPECIMEN  PRICES. 


Elgin  0  Si/e. 


Watch  Cleaning, 
Mainspring  litted. 


~w.  I  Clock  Cleaning,     ,50  to  75c. 
7.5c.  I  Mainspring  Jitted,.50to  75c. 


Walthani  1  Size. 


who  were  well  ;  for  which  they  were  rewarded  by  the  charge  of  introducing 
the  disease  into  the  place  for  the  purpose  of  increasing  their  business.  Of 
the  large  number  of  patients  from  this  and  adjoining  towns  it  is  not  known 
that  more  than  live  died,  these  were  buried  at  the  edge  of  the  wood  and  one 
headstone,  at    the    grave  of  Josiah  Fairbanks  of  Lancaster,  was  erected. 

Dr.  Peter  Snow,  the  successor  of  Dr.  McCarty, 
was  for  forty  years  the  leading  magistrate  and  also 
the  leading  physician  in  town.  Dr.  Jonas  Marshall 
settled  here  soon  after  the  Revolution,  and  died 
here  venerable  in  years  and  honored  as  a  physi- 
cian. It  is  related  that  during  the  reign  of  martial 
law  in  Fitchburg,  during  the  Shay  rebellion,  that  a 
company  of  soldiers,  stationed  here  to  seize  persons 
suspected  of  being  Shayites  "sought"  for  Dr.  Jonas 
Marshall,  but  he  eluded  his  pursuers  by  secreting 


183 


REAL     ESTATB 


AND 


EMPLOYMENT  OFFICE, 

206  MAIN  STREET,  FITGHBURG,  MASS. 

Property  of  all  kinds.  Real  or  Personal, 

For  Sale  or  Exchange. 

Loans  Negotiated  on  Real  and  Personal  Security. 
Tenements  Rented.  Rents  Collected. 

RELIABLE   HELP   FURNISHED. 
C.     A.     BABBITT. 


himself  in  the  cellar  of 
the  "Upton  Tavern,"'  and 
that  he  threatened  to  fur- 
nish his  house  with  trap 
doors  so  that  if  the  sol- 
diers desired  to  search 
his  dwelling  the}'  could 
begin  by  examining  the 
cellar  first.  The  soldiers 
were  soon  after  removed 
to  Townsend,  but  gave  the  finishing  touch  to  their  impudence  by  pressing 
into  the  service  men  and  horses  for  which  no  recompense  was  offered. 
On  this  occasion  Asa  Perry,  a  revolutionary  veteran  who  cordially  hated  the 
gang,  overturned  his  load  several  times  into  snow  drifts,  all  by  accident  of 
course. 


«85 


1875.       A.  ^.  BUZKXOM 

IS    l'IU':i'AKEIi     I'D    SHOW     \0\'    A    Fri.I.    LINK    or 

Paper  Hangings,  Borders  and  Decorations 

As  low  in  price  as  can  be  found   elsewhere.  1Mi€!!»&ii^Mj| 

"•^Window       ©bade?,        l\ollers       and      0rnaments,   ^"  vmmmmI 

Orapery     Goods,     F*oles,    etc. 

pictures,  aiicl  picture  Frame.s  fg^de  to  ©rder 

We  have  a  large  assortment  of  new  goods. 


AWNINOS 


For  Stores  and  Private  Residences. 

TENTS 

For  Fishing  and  Camping. 

209  MAIN  STREET,  FITCHBURG,  MASS. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


Kimball, 
Johnson, 
feet,  and 


HE  oldest  military  company  now  in  existence  in  the  city, 
received  its  charter  in  1816,  and  was  known  by  the  name 
of  the  Fitchburg  Fusiliers  from  the  time  of  its  organiza- 
tion.      It   was    formed    from    the  "Old    South"  Company 
belonging  to  the  4th  Regiment,  2d  Brigade,  7th  Division, 
M.  V.  M.     The  charter  was  granted  to  the  new  company, 
Dec.   14,   1816,   and  the  organization  was  perfected    at  a 
meeting,  Feb.  3,   1817,   at  which   John  Upton,  Uncle    of 
Colonel    Edwin    Upton,)    was    elected    captain;    Alpheus 
(father   of  General   John  W.  Kimball,)    lieutenant,  and    Walter 
ensign.     These  three  officers  were  of  equal  height,  a  trifle  over  six 
otherwise  well  fitted  to  command.     The  uniform  adopted  by  vote 

187 


F.    A.    BENNETT, 

Boarding-.  Baiting,  Sale   and 

Lii'CFV  gtable. 

Barges  for  Picnic  and   Pleasure   Parties. 

Hacks  for  Weddings  and   Funerals  furnished  at 

all  times.     Terms  reasonable. 

Hacks  meet  all  trains  at  depot. 

FITCHBURG,  MASS. 


K.    C.    STO^w^TK 


DK.M.KK    IN 


Ml 


'W 


fcEAD,  mu  f  AINTS, 

JAPANS,   SHELLACS,   ETC. 

l^o-use   ^air]tiT]g,    l^arS    (pil   lfiT]i,sl:i,  feanqiiqg,  yarr|i8}]ir|g,  ete 


302  MAIN  STREET, 


FITCHBURG,  MASS. 


The 
Charles 
Captain 
Charles 
Stearns, 


of  the  company  consisted  of  a  blue  coat  trimmed 
with  bell  buttons  and  lace,  pantaloons  of  the  same 
color  as  the  coat,  made  to  button  over  the  boots, 
and  trimmed  with  bell  buttons  from  the  bottoms  to 
the  hips,  the  caps  were  bound  with  red  morocco 
and  varnished  and  otherwise  "ornamented  as  a 
committee  chosen  might  think  proper." 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  in  1861 
both  the  "Fusiliers"  and  "Washington  Guards"  vol- 
unteered and  served  faithfully  during  the  war. 
Washington  Guards  were  organized  in  July,   1855,  on  petition  of 
H.  Foss  and  tifty-nine  others.     The  following  officers  were  elected  : 
,  John  B.  Proctor;    ist  lieutenant,  Hiram  P.  Minot ;    2d  lieutenant, 
H.  Foss;    3d  lieutenant,  Oscar  A.  Battles;    4th  lieutenant,  Varius 
July    26    the    name    of   Washington    Guards   was    adopted. 

189 


FRANK  S.    STONE, 

APOTHBCARY 

HORSE  CAR  AND  TELEPHONE  STATION. 

16  WESTMINSTER  STREET,  WEST  FITOHBURG. 


DR.   C.    L.   FOX, 

^a^netic  ,#  Botanic  gl]\^8idan. 

MASSAGE     TRKATMENT. 
OFFICE  AND  RESIDENCE  1  COTTAGE  SQUARE,  FITCHBURG,  MASS. 


HE  anti-slavery  and  the  anti-tobacco  questions  found  warm 
advocates  in  Fitchburg.  In  1843  the  intense  feeling  on 
the  slavery  question  caused  a  portion  of  the  "C.  C." 
church  to  secede  and  form  the  ''Trinitarian  Congrega- 
tional." They  were  active  workers  in  the  slavery  contro- 
versy, and  it  was  known  as  one  of  the  underground 
railroad  stations.  It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  the  slavery  issue  was  their 
only  uniting  force,  and  that  when  the  freedom  of  the  slave  was  secured  the 
society  began  to  lose  its  cohesive  power,  and  its  last  sermon  was  preached 
on  the  day  that  the  equality  of  the  negro  before  the  law  was  guaranteed. 
In  187 1  the  church  building,  now  the  post-office,  was  sold  at  auction  to  John 
M.  Carpenter  for  $14,300.  Largely  through  the  efforts  of  the  Rev.  Geo. 
Trask  of  "anti-tobacco  fame,"  who  was  for  several  years  the  pastor,  the 
proceeds  of  the  sale  were  disposed  of  by  presenting  the  Rev.  Elnathan 
Davis,  a  former  pastor,  $2, coo  as  a  token  of  appreciation  of  his  success, 


191 


^-^   - 


-r 


■•^•yV' 


J 


JAMES  H.  MACK  X  CO. 


'kt^jC>V-K\ 


r^r^p=ii^r^riJr^rrJi^rdriJpiJpJf:iJf^piir=lf^rJr=if^r=Jf^r:JriirijpJpiir^Jj 

•fePIit  UMBERS  t* 


fdrJr^rJpJrJf=JriJrdr^fdrJrdr=Jr=JrJf=Jr:iir:iJf=Jp^i=JnJf=Jr:Jr:iJf=JrrJf=Jf 


SdLE    AGENTS    FOR 

4-  RHN6E3  -h  HND  •^  EaRNHCE^. 


Fine  Sanitary  Plumbing  a  Specialty. 


'i'171   MAIN   ST. 


Cor.   MILL  ST. 


and  the  balance  was  given  to  the  Freedman  Aid  Society.  The  Rev. 
Geo.  Trask,  through  his  anti-tobacco  principles  and  his  unrelenting  crusade 
against  the  weed  in  every  form,  became  well  known  throughout  the  country. 

He  published  the  "Anti-Tobacco  Journal," 
issued  quarterl}'  and  as  much  oftencr  as 
funds  came  in  to  enable  him  to  do  so. 
This  and  the  one  hundred  or  more  different 
tracts,  filled  with  spicy  and  interesting 
reading  matter,  were  written  in  his  own 
peculiar  style  and  illustrated  by  grotesque 
and  striking  caricatures,  procured  at  ran- 
dom from  different  sources,  without  any 
reference  to  their  original  use  or  purpose. 
A  few  of  these  we  reproduce.  No  better 
description  of  the  man  and  his  work  can  be 


13 


193 


GEORGE    W.    WRIGHT, 

^FINB     PRINTING.^ 

"^^e(3.3.iT]g   StatioTqe-py   a  ^-gecialty, 

360  Main  Street,  Fitd^biirg,  Mass- 


given  than  was  written  by  himself  in    one  of  his  pubHcations,  extracts  ot 
which  are  here  (jiven  : 

"I  was  born  near  the  close  of  the  last  century.  The  exact  moment 
of  that  occurrence,  so  auspicious  to  me,  I  never  knew  and  as  I  have  the 
weakness  of  a  clergyman — the  wish  to  be  thought  young  always — I  hope  I 
shall  be  pardoned  if  I  pass  over  this  delicate  point  without  further  notice, 
three  score  years  and  ten  shall  not  make  an  old  man  of  me  if  I  can  help  it. 

"I  was  born  when  men  were  born  and  the  fires  of  seventy-six  were 
burning  brightly  above  the  socket.  To  those  times  I 
attribute  an  infusion  of  a  radical  element,  which  is 
said  to  mar  my  character,  and  which  now  and  then  has 
given  me  and  my  conservative  friends  some  annoyance. 
This  troublesome  element  is  indigenous.  I  should  not 
be  blamed  for  it.  'I  don't  whistle — it  whistles  itself, 
said  the  school  boy. 


195 


"I  was  born  in  Beverly — a  town  blessed  with  as 
many  clever  people  as  any  on  the  map.  I  would 
take  the  premium,  I  dare  sa}',  in  any  fair  competition 
for  this  amiable  virtue.  Hence  if  I  have  here  and 
there  an  amiable  streak  you  may  impute  it  to  the 
place  of  my  birth — Old  Beverly,  Essex  County, 
Massachusetts.  'Honor  to  whom  Honor.'  Jeremiah 
Trask  was  my  father — Hannah  Wallis  was  my  mother.  They  were  both 
of  a  godly  type — Israelites  indeed — Calvinistic  to  the  hub  and  as  true  to 
the  venerable  Catechism  as  the  needle  to  the  pole.  The  blood  is  traceable 
to  the  blue  hills  of  Scotland,  and  it  must  have  been  very  respectable  blood 
for  even  now,  in  spite  of  all  adulterations,  it  is  not  half  as  bad  as  much  that 
is  current  about  us.  I  have  searched  my  pedigree  and  I  find  no  Trask  who 
was  king,  lord,  or  duke,  or  any  tremendous  character,  and  I  find  none  that 
were  hung,  whatever  our  deserts. 


•97 


FEATHER  BEDS  M  lATIRESSES 

CARPETS  CLEANSED 


OLD  WAY. 


In  the   most  thorough   manner;     also  taken   up  and   relaid 
if  desired. 

A//  ivoi'k  called  for  and  returned  free  of  charge. 

Orders  by  mail  or  left  at  works  will  receive  prompt 
attention. 

FITCHBURG 

Steam  Carpet  Cleaning  Works, 

PLTTNA?vI     STREET. 

P.  A.  NOURSE. 


"I  have  been  honored 
with  many  offices — more 
than  I  care  to  name.  I 
have  sometimes  risen  to 
presidential  glories !  I 
have  been  president  of 
temperance, moral  reform, 
peace,  and  abolition  socie- 
ties, when  brick-bats  were 
in  high  repute,  and  when 
we  had  to  say  to  gentle- 
men of  property  and  stand- 
ing, 'Gentlemen,  these  arguments  are  weighty,  but  not  conclusive.'  *  * 
I  am  not  a  great  man,  and  make  no  such  pretention — whatever  God  does  by 
ray  agency,  he  shows  he  can  do  business  on  a  small  capital  and  use  even  one 
talent  to  some  advantage." 

Mr.  Trask  had  a  remarkable  faculty  of  interesting  prominent  men  in  his 
work,  and  his  acquaintance  with    public  men  was  extensive.     The  writer 


199 


F.    D.    WHIPPLE, 

Real  ^  Estate  <^  and  ^  Farm  ^^  Agent, 

9  BLOSSOM  STREET,  FITGHBURG,  MASS. 


€.^^^A#/^^. 


MANUFACTURER    OF 


PATTERNS  AND  MODELS. 


Scroll  Sawing  and  Light  Wood 
Jobbing  done  to  order. 

NEWTON  PLACE,  FITGHBURG,  MASS. 


has  in  mind  at  least  one  instance  when  a  gentleman,  for  many  years  an 
inveterate  user  of  tobacco,  was  led  to  abandon  the  habit  largely  through  the 
influence  of  one  of  Mr.  Trask's  anti-tobacco  tracts,  "The  Diary  of  Rev. 
Solomon  Spittle." 

About  the  year  1827  or  '28  an  eccentric  genius  by  the  name  of  Crosby 
came  to  Fitchburg  to  teach  school.  He  was  engaged  to  teach  in  the  center 
district,  in  a  school  house  located  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Mechanic 
streets — about  where  now  stands  the  residence  of  the  late  ex-Mayor  David 
H.    Merriam.        He    boarded    at    a    house    next    below    what    is    now    the 

confectionery  store  of  H.  N.  Rugg. 
One  of  his  peculiar  oddities  was  that 
he  could  never  be  prevailed  upon 
to  sleep  in  a  bed,  but  persisted  in 
sleeping  in  the  school  house.  During 
Crosby's  reign    here  as  a    pedagogue 


Dom>Sfll  lirE/AcciDENT  In^j 

'^ CosT^^'^l  CANNoYAFfoi\pTo.  "Bur 

Anp  Pay  allHone^t  Claims  Ihmepiately 

Without  j)i6couNir°\BANTEKiNG 


I 


riiair 


W5i.K!fl^YA^tFir(HmuF\^. 


the  town  was  severely  afflicted  with  incendiary  fires.  One  fire  after 
another  occurred  in  such  rapid  succession  that  a  feeling  of  terror  settled 
upon  the  inhabitants,  and  many  children — and  grown-up  people  as  well — 
were  afraid  to  go  to  bed  at  night,  for  fear  of  being  burned  out  before 
morning.  This  was  before  the  invention  of  ethcient  fire  apparatus,  and 
before  fire  insurance  had  become  common  as  in  later  years. 

The  first  fire  that  occurred  was  the  burning  of  the  shop  of  Capt. 
Zachariah  Sheldon,  located  where  the  Priest  Lumber  Mill  now  is,  on 
Rollstone    street.     Very    soon    the    house  of  Benjamin  Snow,  where  Mrs. 

Alvah  Crocker  now  lives,  was  burned 
down,  some  of  the  inmates  barely  es- 
caping with  their  lives.  Great  excite- 
ment prevailed  and  a  force  was  raised 
to  patrol  the  streets  through  the  night. 
Crosby  was  one  of  the  most  active  of  the 


RODNEY    WALLACE, 


DEALER    IN 


^COTTON     WASTK.>5^ 

OFFICE  366  MAIN  STREET,  FITOHBURG. 

RODNEY  WALLACE.  H.  1.  WALLACE.  C.  R.  WALLACE. 

FITCHBURG  PAPER  COMPANY, 


MANUFACTURERS   OF 


HANGING, 

CARD  AND 

COLORING 


PAPERS. 

OFFICE  356  MAIN  STREET,  FITCHBURG. 


patrolling  force,  as  he  was  ever    among  the 

foremost  to  arrive    at    the    fires,   and    most 

zealous    in    combating    the    flames.        One 

night,    while    the    watchmen    were    going 

their    rounds,    the    barn    of  Dr.   Jonas   A. 

Marshall  was  set  on  fire  and  burnt  to  the 

ground.       A  shed    connecting    the    barn  and    house  was  with  great  effort 

torn    away    and    the    house    saved    from    destruction.       The    citizens    were 

now    thoroughly    aroused,    and    determined    to    hunt  down    the  incendiary. 

The    intrepid    Crosby    turned    out    with    the    rest    to    scour    the    town    for 

the    arrest    of    the    fire-fiend ;     and    in    jumping    a    small     stream    stepped 

on  a  rolling  stone  and  turned  his  ankle,  which  lamed  and  badly  disabled 

him.        He    was    helped    to    his    boarding    place    and    offered    a    bed,    but 

preferred    to  bunk  on  the  floor ;  and  was  visited,  commiserated  and  cared 

for  by  some  of  the  first  people  of  the  town. 


205 


W.    B.    CHIPMAN.  H.    U.    PHILBROOK. 

CHIPMAN  &  PHILBROOK, 


DEALERS    IN 


«  jif liliiFe,  ^appelp,  ^Uf4,'  fiii®^*  ^p««IwJj  * 

LAMPS,     BEDDING, 

AND  A  COMPLETE  LINE  OF  HOUSE  FURNISHING  GOODS. 

Cash  or  Special  Terms  of  Credit. 

222  Main  Street,  Fitchburg,  Mass. 


After  Sheldon's  shop  was  burned  a  young  man  by  the  name  of 
Jonas  Spaulding — a  sort  of  half-witted  fellow — was  arrested,  tried,  con- 
victed and  sent  to  state  prison.  He  confessed  to  setting  the  fire, 
but  said  he  w^as  induced  to  do  it  by  a  man  whose  name  he  did  not 
know. 

Crosby  went  from  here  to  Salem,  and  was  there  detected  in  rascalities 
which  proved  him  to  be  a  consummate  villian,  and  it  was  finally  ascertained 
that  he  set  or  instigated  the  setting  of  all  the  fires  that  had  so  disturbed 
the  slumbers  and  endangered 
the  lives  of  the  people  of 
Fitchburg.  x\fter  leading  a 
life  of  rascality  and  crime 
Crosby  is  said  to  have  finally 
terminated  his  career  on  the 
gallows. 


207 


^^w^^ 


^^,^^.^.lM\r^f  TW^  >'ir>  ^^r^-^' 


'^''it'V 


